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Dennis Bonnen
Texas State Representative, District 25

Community Activities
Awards and Accolades
Legislative Highlights

Representative Dennis Bonnen serves the 25th Legislative District in the Texas House of Representatives representing most of southern Brazoria County.  First elected to the Legislature in 1996, he will begin his eighth term of office in January 2011.

Speaker of the House Joe Straus appointed Representative Bonnen as Chairman of the Land and Resource Management Committee for the 81st Legislature, allowing him the opportunity to take the lead on issues such as property rights, coastal erosion, and Hurricane Ike recovery.   He was also appointed to the Elections Committee, where he worked tirelessly on the Voter ID bill.

Following the legislative session last year, he was named a Champion for Free Enterprise by the Texas Association of  Business and a Defender of the American Dream by Americans for Prosperity for his pro-business voting record.  

In November 2009, Speaker Straus appointed Representative Bonnen as Vice-Chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission, an organization designed to streamline our state agencies and promote efficiency in government.  The Commission is comprised of five members from each legislative chamber and two public members.  Representative Bonnen will serve as Chairman in the third and fourth years of his term.

At home in Brazoria County, Representative Bonnen is on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement and is presently serving on the board of B.I.G. Love Cancer Care Services.   He has served as honorary co-chairman of the Leukemia Society Light the Night Walk and Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament.  He is an active supporter of youth events at the Brazoria County Fair, BACH, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  

Representative Bonnen is a graduate of Angleton High School and graduated cum laude from St. Edwards University in Austin with a B.A. in Political Science. St. Edward's honored him with their Alumni Achievement Award in 2001.

In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Bonnen is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Heritage Bank in Pearland.  The Houston Business Journal honored him in 2009 with one of the inaugural "40 Under 40" awards recognizing young business leaders who show dynamic leadership in their community.

He and his wife Kim and their two sons make their home in Angleton.

Community Activities

  • Board of Directors, Junior Achievement
  • Board of Directors, BIG Love Cancer Care Services
  • Active supporter, Brazoria County Fair youth events
  • Lifetime member, Brazoria County Fair Association
  • Advisory board, Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts
  • Active supporter, Boys Scouts
  • Active supporter, Brazoria County Cavalry and Military Moms
  • Advisory board/past member, Community Foundation of Brazoria County
  • Member, Angleton, Brazosport, Sweeny, West Columbia Chambers of Commerce
  • Member, Economic Development Alliance of Brazoria County
  • Charter member, Angleton Exchange Club
  • Member, Levi Jordan Plantation Historical Society
  • Charter member, SFA 500
  • Charter member, Brazoria Historical Foundation
  • Active supporter, Friends of River San Bernard
  • Lifetime member, 100 Club of Brazoria County
  • Member, ARC of Gulf Coast
  • Past co-chairman, Leukemia Society Light the Night event

Awards and Accolades

  • "40 Under 40"  award by Houston Business Journal, 2009
  • Defender of the American Dream by Americans for Prosperity, 2006, 2009
  • Champion of Free Enterprise by Texas Association of Business, 2009
  • Champion for Technology by American Electronics Association, 2008
  • Environmental Steward Award by Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce, 2008
  • Clean Air Champion Award by Texas Clean Air Working Group, 2008
  • Hall of Honor by Brazoria County Republican Party, 2008
  • Partnership Award by Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps, 2006
  • Community Honoree by LULAC Council #4655, 2006
  • Port Person of the Year by Texas Ports Association, 2005
  • Appreciation Award by Native Plant Society of Texas, 2005
  • Good Citizenship Medal by Cradle of Texas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, 2004
  • Public Service Award by Emissions Reduction and Energy Leadership Conference in San Antonio, 2004
  • Texas Lone Star Leadership Award by Texas Public Policy Foundation, 2003
  • Appreciation Award by Macedonian Association of Greater Houston, 2003
  • Fighter for Free Enterprise Award by Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce, 2001
  • Freedom and Family Award by Texas Eagle Forum, 2001
  • Alumni Achievement Award by St. Edwards University, 2001
  • Legislator of the Year by the ARC, 1999
  • Appreciation Award by American Diabetes Association, 1998
  • Recipient of Flemings Fellowship for Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore State Legislators, 1998

Legislative Highlights

81st Legislature and Interim (2009-2010)

  • Vice-Chairman, Sunset Advisory Commission
  • Chairman,  Land and Resource Management Committee
  • Member,  Elections Committee
  • Authored HB 2534 to increase small business franchise tax exemption
  • Authored HB 3556 to require voters to show a photo ID
  • Authored HB 2533 to fine highway contractors for project delays and direct this revenue to affected businesses
  • Passed HB 267 to allow Texans to purchase firearms and ammunition in all fifty states
  • Passed HB 1510 to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

80th Legislature and Interim (2007-2008)

  • Member, Select Committee on Hurricane Ike Storm Devastation
  • Chairman,  Environmental Regulation Committee
  • Member, Ways and Means Committee
  • Chairman, Select Committee on Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects
  • Charter member, Community College Caucus
  • Passed HB 1098 to reverse Governor's HPV vaccine order
  • Passed HB 2198 to remove pilot status of baccalaureate degree programs offered by Brazosport Community College
  • Passed HB 2714 to create groundbreaking computer recycling program
  • Passed HB 959 to extend the statute of limitations for child abuse crimes
  • Passed HB 1840, the Sarah Kathryn Thompson Act, to increase the penalty for fleeing the scene of an auto accident

79th Legislature and Interim (2005-2006)

  • Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
  • Member, Natural Resources Committee
  • Member, National Conference of State Legislators' Agriculture, Environment, and Energy Committee
  • Member, Texas Legislative Tourism Caucus
  • Amended appropriations bill to include $1 million in funding for Brazosport College's baccalaureate degree program
  • Passed HB 657, the Donna Hoedt Act, to provide judges the option of terminating the parental rights of a parent convicted of murdering a child's other parent
  • Passed HB 2096 to establish a self-funding mechanism for the state to remove abandoned vessels at no expense to taxpayers
  • Joint-authored HB 27, the Darren Medlin and Justin Wollam Act, to enhance penalties for the intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer or firefighter
  • Secured appropriations to remove abandoned oil rig, Zeus, in Freeport ship channel

78th Legislature and Interim (2003-2004)

  • Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
  • Member, Insurance Committee
  • Member, Select Committee on Public School Finance
  • Member, Advisory Committee on Rock Crushers and Quarries
  • Member, Environmental Task Force of The Council of State Governments
  • Executive Committee member, Energy Council
  • Member, Texas 21 Legislative Caucus
  • Passed SB 193, the Move Over Act, to require motorists to move over or slow down when passing a stationary emergency vehicle
  • Passed HB 1365 to restore full funding of federally-mandated Texas Emissions Reduction Plan
  • Passed amendment to SB 286 to create pilot project allowing Brazosport College to offer limited four-year degrees

77th Legislature and Interim (2001-2002)

  • Vice-Chairman, Environmental Regulation Committee
  • Member, Ways and Means Committee
  • Texas delegate, national study to simplify state sales taxes
  • Increased multipliers for retired teachers
  • Passed HB 2914 to streamline and enhance the Comptroller's administration of the state's fiscal matters
  • Passed HB 805 to assist Crime Stoppers
  • Passed HB 2610 and HB 2621 to update gender references in child support and child custody laws

76th Legislature and Interim (1999-2000)

  • Member, Ways and Means Committee
  • Chairman, Business Tax Subcommittee
  • Member, Pensions and Investments Committee
  • Chairman, Interim Subcommittee of Pensions and Investments Committee charged with studying state policies regarding reemployment of people who have retired under state retirement plan
  • Member, Select Committee on Teacher Health Insurance
  • Campaigned for Governor George W. Bush in Iowa Republican Caucus

75th Legislature and Interim (1997-1998)

  • At 24, youngest member of Texas House of Representatives
  • Member, County Affairs Committee
  • Member, Insurance Committee
  • Speaker's designee for application to the Henry Toll Fellowship Program
  • Member, National Conference of Insurance Legislators
  • Passed SB 553 (HB 1478) renaming portion of SH 35 the Stephen F. Austin Memorial Hwy
  • Passed HB 2868 to permit drafting of county-wide master drainage plan
  • Supported repeal of motorcycle helmet law