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Rep. Bernal, Diego M.
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Biography

Representative Diego Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate degree, Master's in Social Work, and law degree.

Rep. Bernal, Diego M. - Biography

Representative Diego Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate degree, Master's in Social Work, and law degree. As a social worker, he helped young gang members in Detroit transition out of a rough life and into school or the workforce.

Diego Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. He earned an undergraduate degree, a master's degree in social work, and a law degree from the University of Michigan.

Rep. Bernal, Diego M. - District 123 - Texas House of Representatives

After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate degree, Master's in Social Work, and law degree. As a social worker, he helped young gang members in Detroit transition out of a rough life and into school or the workforce. He continued this work in Harlingen, Texas with Communities in Schools (CIS), working with at-risk youth to improve literacy by founding a student newspaper.

As a social worker, he helped young gang members in Detroit transition out of a rough life and into school or the workforce. He continued this work in Harlingen, Texas with Communities in Schools (CIS), working with at-risk youth to improve literacy by founding a student newspaper.

During law school, he devoted himself to civil rights advocacy.

After graduating from law school, he returned to San Antonio permanently as a MALDEF staff attorney, advocating and litigating on behalf of working people, children, and immigrant communities. He worked for systemic changes to ensure equitable funding for Texas public school and fought against discrimination in schools and the workplace.

Diego Bernal previously worked as a staff attorney in San Antonio, a social worker with Communities in Schools in Harlingen, and a social worker in Detroit.

Terms of service footnotes

(1) Diego Bernal sworn 3/3/2015. Oaths of Office.
(2) Diego Bernal, in special election 1/6/2015, runoff 2/17/2015, sworn 3/3/2015, succeeded Mike Villarreal, declined to qualify 11/6/2014. Texas Secretary of State - Historical Election Returns, 1992-2019.
(3) Proclamation, 1/23/2015, ordering special runoff election on 2/17/2015 in House District 123 to serve remainder of term of Mike Villarreal. Governor Greg Abbott.

Texas Legislators Past & Present: Diego Bernal

Terms of Service
Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	123	Jan 14, 2025 - Jan 12, 2027	89th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 10, 2023 - Jan 14, 2025	88th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 12, 2021 - Jan 10, 2023	87th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 8, 2019 - Jan 12, 2021	86th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 10, 2017 - Jan 8, 2019	85th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Mar 3, 2015 - Jan 10, 2017	84th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar

In June 2011, Diego was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1. He worked alongside Mayor Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development. Diego wrote and passed the strictest payday loan regulation in the state of Texas.

Diego currently serves as the state representative for Texas House District 123. He was first elected in a 2015 special election and is serving his sixth term. Diego was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1 in 2011.

Member profile for Diego Bernal - Texas Legislative Reference Library

2026 Texas General Election

In June 2011, Diego was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1. He worked alongside Mayor Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development. Diego wrote and passed the strictest payday loan regulation in the state of Texas. Bernal also passed the Non-Discrimination Ordinance (NDO), ensuring everyone is treated equal and fairly.

Wrote and passed a San Antonio payday-loan regulation described as the strictest in Texas.

- Wrote and passed a San Antonio payday-loan regulation described as the strictest in Texas.

Economy

As of July 22, 2026, Diego Bernal’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Healthcare

Bernal added there could also be a shift in how public school students are funded, focusing more on enrollment and not attendance.

“They all have different challenges that are rooted in the way the school finance system works. I think that there are parts of that system that we need to change,” he said. “I think there’s one significant change on the horizon, which is the way that we fund the students. Previously, we funded it on attendance. There’s conversations about funding it on enrollment. That would change the math in a way that’s helpful.”

State Rep. Diego Bernal discusses potential ‘Texas Two-Step’ for school financing amid SAISD heating concerns

After graduating from law school, he returned to San Antonio permanently as a MALDEF staff attorney, advocating and litigating on behalf of working people, children, and immigrant communities. He worked for systemic changes to ensure equitable funding for Texas public school and fought against discrimination in schools and the workplace. He also fought to safeguard the integrity of our electoral systems, making sure that every citizen has an equal right to vote.

House Vote #1 - 2023: PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Voted for a budget amendment to prohibit state funds from being spent on private school vouchers. ATPE supported the amendment.

House Floor Amendment 45 by Rep. Abel Herrero (D–Robstown) to House Bill 1 by Rep. Greg Bonnen (R–Friendswood), 88th Legislature, Regular Session. During its April 6, 2023, debate on the budget bill, the House passed this ATPE-supported amendment banning use of state funds for a private school voucher. (Record vote #111. View an in the House journal.) The amendment passed but was later stripped out of the final budget bill.

Diego Bernal | TTV

Rep. Diego Bernal, a Democrat from San Antonio, repeatedly asked about how the state would ensure low-income families receive access to the program if the law does not require private schools to help them with the costs. The average private school tuition in Texas sits at roughly $11,340, according to Private School Review, so the House’s voucher proposal may not fully cover the price at some campuses.

“Unless there’s a policy to do that, they’re asking me to bank on their goodwill. And I don’t doubt that that exists, but that’s not how you make policy,” Bernal said.

“You can’t make policy like this — hoping that someone finds it in their heart to really make it happen.”

School voucher bill debate centers on wealthy Texans

House Vote #10 - 2023: SCHOOL CHAPLAINS

Voted against a bill that allows school districts to employ paid or volunteer chaplains for student counseling and support and requires school boards to adopt a policy on whether to use chaplains. ATPE opposes allowing chaplains not certified as school counselors to provide counseling services to students.

Senate Bill 763 by Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston), sponsored in the House by Rep. Cole Hefner (R–Mount Pleasant), 88th Legislature, Regular Session. The bill allows school districts to employ paid or volunteer chaplains to support students without requiring them to be certified or trained as school counselors. SB 763 also requires each school board to vote on whether to adopt a policy authorizing the district’s use of chaplains.

House Vote #9 - 2023: SCHOOL COUNSELORS

Voted against a bill that removed the requirement for school counselors to have prior experience as a classroom teacher. ATPE opposed the bill.

Senate Bill 798 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston), sponsored in the House by Rep. Brad Buckley (R–Salado), 88th Legislature, Regular Session. The bill removed the requirement for school counselors to have prior experience as a classroom teacher. On May 16, 2023, the House voted to pass the bill on second reading. (Record vote #1750. View an in the House journal.) The bill was finally passed the next day and ultimately became law.

Said Texas should change parts of its school-finance system and that enrollment-based student funding would be helpful.

Advocated for equitable funding for Texas public schools.

Voted to prohibit state funds from being spent on private-school vouchers.

Voted against allowing school districts to use paid or volunteer chaplains for student counseling and support.

Voted against removing the requirement that school counselors have prior classroom-teaching experience.

- Said Texas should change parts of its school-finance system and that enrollment-based student funding would be helpful.
- Advocated for equitable funding for Texas public schools.
- Voted to prohibit state funds from being spent on private-school vouchers.
- Voted against allowing school districts to use paid or volunteer chaplains for student counseling and support.
- Voted against removing the requirement that school counselors have prior classroom-teaching experience.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Advocated for electoral-system integrity and equal voting rights for every citizen.

- Advocated for electoral-system integrity and equal voting rights for every citizen.

Voting & Elections

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Diego Bernal

- Advocated for equitable funding for Texas public schools.
- Voted to prohibit state funds from being spent on private-school vouchers.
- Voted against allowing school districts to use paid or volunteer chaplains for student counseling and support.
- Voted against removing the requirement that school counselors have prior classroom-teaching experience.

Terms of Service
Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	123	Jan 14, 2025 - Jan 12, 2027	89th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 10, 2023 - Jan 14, 2025	88th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 12, 2021 - Jan 10, 2023	87th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 8, 2019 - Jan 12, 2021	86th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Jan 10, 2017 - Jan 8, 2019	85th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar
H	123	Mar 3, 2015 - Jan 10, 2017	84th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar		Bexar

Terms of service footnotes
(2) Diego Bernal, in special election 1/6/2015, runoff 2/17/2015, sworn 3/3/2015, succeeded Mike Villarreal, declined to qualify 11/6/2014.

Diego Bernal currently serves as the state representative for Texas House District 123. He began serving in 2015 after a special election and is serving his sixth term.

HB 452

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

02/28/2025 H Referred to Ways & Means: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM

Caption:

Relating to a sales and use tax refund for certain small businesses.

Bills Authored / Joint Authored — Texas Legislature (Rep. Diego Bernal, 89th Legislature Regular Session)

HB 841

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

03/05/2025 H Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM

Caption:

Relating to requiring certain employers to provide paid sick leave to employees; providing administrative penalties.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 452 to provide a sales-and-use tax refund for certain small businesses.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 841 to require certain employers to provide paid sick leave.

- As a state representative, authored House Bill 452 to provide a sales-and-use tax refund for certain small businesses.
- As a state representative, authored House Bill 841 to require certain employers to provide paid sick leave.

HB 479

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

02/28/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM

Caption:

Relating to requiring a licensed firearms dealer to report certain sales or transfers of multiple rifles to law enforcement; creating a criminal offense.

HB 828

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

03/05/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM

Caption:

Relating to the creation of certain criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows; authorizing a fee.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 479 to require reporting of certain multiple-rifle sales or transfers to law enforcement.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 828 to create criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows.

- As a state representative, authored House Bill 479 to require reporting of certain multiple-rifle sales or transfers to law enforcement.
- As a state representative, authored House Bill 828 to create criminal offenses concerning firearm sales at gun shows.

HB 426

Author:

Bernal | Dorazio | Swanson | Bonnen | Gervin-Hawkins

Sponsor:

West

Last Action:

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Caption:

Relating to Medicaid and child health plan program coverage and reimbursement for childhood cranial remolding orthosis.

HB 792

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

03/05/2025 H Referred to s/c on Dis Prev & Women's & Children's Health by Speaker: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM

Caption:

Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid in certain counties under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

As a state representative, co-authored House Bill 426 concerning Medicaid and child health program coverage for childhood cranial remolding orthoses.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 792 to expand Medicaid eligibility in certain counties under the Affordable Care Act.

- As a state representative, co-authored House Bill 426 concerning Medicaid and child health program coverage for childhood cranial remolding orthoses.
- As a state representative, authored House Bill 792 to expand Medicaid eligibility in certain counties under the Affordable Care Act.

HB 567

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

03/03/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 3 2025 2:24PM

Caption:

Relating to school district grace period policies and the provision of meals to public school students with insufficient balances on prepaid meal cards or in meal accounts.

HB 593

Author:

Bernal

Last Action:

03/03/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 3 2025 2:24PM

Caption:

Relating to the compensatory education allotment for homeless students or students in foster care under the Foundation School Program.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 567 concerning school meal access for students with insufficient prepaid meal-account balances.

As a state representative, authored House Bill 593 concerning compensatory education funding for homeless students and students in foster care.

- As a state representative, authored House Bill 567 concerning school meal access for students with insufficient prepaid meal-account balances.
- As a state representative, authored House Bill 593 concerning compensatory education funding for homeless students and students in foster care.

Advocates for equal voting rights and safeguards for electoral systems.

Representative Diego Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate degree, Master's in Social Work, and law degree.

Representative Diego Bernal Biography

Diego is the proud father of Xan Rosa Bernal.

Diego Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. He earned an undergraduate degree, a master's degree in social work, and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He is a father.

As a social worker, he helped young gang members in Detroit transition out of a rough life and into school or the workforce. He continued this work in Harlingen, Texas with Communities in Schools (CIS), working with at-risk youth to improve literacy by founding a student newspaper.

Diego previously worked as a social worker in Detroit and with Communities in Schools in Harlingen. He also worked as a staff attorney at MALDEF in San Antonio.

Representative Bernal was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in February 2015. He represents District 123, home to downtown and north central San Antonio, parts of the city's West Side, along with the City of Castle Hills.

Diego represents District 123 in the Texas House of Representatives and was elected in February 2015. He was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1 in June 2011.

As a City Council member, he wrote and passed a payday-loan regulation that was described as Texas's strictest.

Authored House Bill 131, creating a Medicaid buy-in program for certain low-income individuals through Medicaid expansion.

Authored House Bill 143, expanding Medicaid eligibility in certain counties under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Authored House Bill 3195, establishing a health-care pilot program for low-income individuals.

HB 2863 Author: Bernal
Last Action: 03/16/2015 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 16 2015 4:36PM
Caption: Relating to public school accountability for bilingual education and English as a second language and other special language programs.

Texas Legislature Online - Report

Authored House Bill 2863, addressing public-school accountability for bilingual education, English as a second language, and other special language programs.

- Advocated for equitable funding for Texas public schools.
- Authored House Bill 2863, addressing public-school accountability for bilingual education, English as a second language, and other special language programs.

Advocated for equal voting rights and safeguards for electoral systems.

- Advocated for equal voting rights and safeguards for electoral systems.

Diego Bernal is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives representing District 123. Prior to serving in the state legislature, he was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1 in June 2011.

Texas House of Representatives District 123 - Ballotpedia

Supports expanding access to healthcare services.

Has worked to improve quality of life for constituents through legislative efforts.

Diego is from San Antonio, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Government. He also has a master's degree in Social Work and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He lives with his daughter, Xan Rosa Bernal, in San Antonio.

Rep. Diego Bernal - Texas State Directory Online

Diego is a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He previously served as a member of the San Antonio City Council, representing District 1, worked as a staff attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, worked as a social worker in Detroit helping young gang members transition into school or the workforce, and worked with Communities in Schools in Harlingen, Texas, where he founded a student newspaper to improve literacy.

Texas Rep. Diego Bernal details in our Elected Officials Directory

Diego Bernal is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives representing District 123. Prior to his service in the state legislature, Bernal was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1 in June 2011.

Advocates for increased funding for public schools.

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.