Penny is a native Houstonian who attended Houston public schools. She has 4 children.

Penny is an attorney who previously worked for NAACP legal clinics. She previously worked as the deputy chief for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2, overseeing policy and legislative affairs.

Ballotpedia

Penny Morales Shaw is s state representative for State House District 148. She was first elected in 2020 and is serving her 2nd term. 

Houston Chronicle, Editorial: We recommend Penny Morales Shaw for Texas House District 148

Supports using the $27 billion budget surplus to buy down property taxes for homeowners.

- Supports using the $27 billion budget surplus to buy down property taxes for homeowners.

Economy

As of September 7, 2024, Penny Morales Shaw’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Candidate website

Planned Parenthood, 2023 Texas Legislative Champions

Supports parental leave policy that would replace 100% of a worker's wages for up to 12 weeks after giving birth.

Opposes SB 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.

Opposes Senate Bill (SB) 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.

- Supports parental leave policy that would replace 100% of a worker's wages for up to 12 weeks after giving birth.
- Opposes Senate Bill (SB) 14, which would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children.
- Supports abortion access.

Healthcare

Opposes the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

Opposed the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

- Supports tenure in higher education.
- Opposed the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District.

Education

Public Health Watch, Houston Lawmaker Moves to Hold Polluters Accountable

Believes in providing affordable broadband access for students, supporting a $15-a-month-per-student program over free options.

Supports free access to broadband internet in Houston schools. 

Supports regulating the oil and gas industry to prevent the injection of "forever chemicals" into Texas oil and gas wells.

As a state representative, introduced a bill that would increase fines on polluters and ensure that impacted governments could access more of the money collected.

- Supports free access to broadband internet in Houston schools. 
- Supports regulating the oil and gas industry to prevent the injection of "forever chemicals" into Texas oil and gas wells.
- As a state representative, introduced a bill that would increase fines on polluters and ensure that impacted governments could access more of the money collected.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Penny Morales Shaw

LinkedIn

Kay attended the University of Houston. She has 1 daughter and 3 grandsons. She is a member of Champion Forest Baptist Church.

Kay is an entrepreneur and owns Smith Street Jewlerly. She is the founder of Hero and Friend, a non-profit organization that provides job skills training for military veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Ballotpedia: Kay Smith

Kay Smith ran for the state representative in State House District 148 in 2022 and state representative in State House District 130 in 2016, but she did not win. She also ran for Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees in 2020, but she also did not win. She previously served as vice president of the Harris County school board.

Believes a limited government framework best encourages entrepreneurship, investment, and prosperity for all.

Believes that limited government involvement best encourages entrepreneurship and investment.

Supports maintaining low taxes, a well-trained workforce, and a fair regulatory climate to boost creativity and growth and lower business costs.

Supports maintaining low taxes and a "fair" regulatory climate to foster creativity and growth and lower business costs.

- Believes that limited government involvement best encourages entrepreneurship and investment.
- Supports maintaining low taxes and a "fair" regulatory climate to foster creativity and growth and lower business costs.

Supports bail reform to keep felons, capital murderers, and violent offenders off the streets.

Supports bail reform and any measures aimed to keep violent felons and offenders "off the streets."

Promises to lead efforts to hold judges accountable for "endangering our citizens and failing to hold criminals accountable."

Supports efforts to hold judges accountable for "endangering our citizens and failing to hold criminals accountable."

Opposes government mandates and lockdowns.

Supports using walls, fencing, technology, state police, and military personnel to secure the southern border.

Supports heavy security measures at the southern border, including "walls, fencing, technology, state police, and military personnel..." to prevent undocumented immigration. 

- Supports bail reform and any measures aimed to keep violent felons and offenders "off the streets."
- Supports efforts to hold judges accountable for "endangering our citizens and failing to hold criminals accountable."
- Opposes government mandates and lockdowns.
- Opposes gun control.
- Supports heavy security measures at the southern border, including "walls, fencing, technology, state police, and military personnel..." to prevent undocumented immigration. 

Opposes vaccine and mask mandates and lockdowns.

- Opposes vaccine mandates.
- Opposes abortion access.

Promises to advocate for public education and prioritize student needs.

Believes many public schools are failing and plans to expand school choice.

Believes many public schools are failing and plans to expand school voucher programs, which enable parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Opposes "critical race theory" being taught in schools.

Opposes education on race and racism being taught in schools.

- Promises to advocate for public education and prioritize student needs.
- Believes many public schools are failing and plans to expand school voucher programs, which enable parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.
- Opposes education on race and racism being taught in schools.

As of September 7, 2024, Kay Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to call for a full audit of the election system and "fight to strengthen penalties for voter fraud."

- Plans to call for a full audit of the election system and "fight to strengthen penalties for voter fraud."

Kay Smith

- 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.