Texas State Representative, District 96

David Cook is a Republican who represents Texas House District 96 and is serving his third term, after serving as mayor of Mansfield from 2008 to 2021³⁵. He is the managing partner of the Harris Cook law firm and says he is a board-certified family-law attorney¹. His stated top priorities for the Senate are property tax relief, cutting wasteful spending, securing the border and affordability¹.

Where they stand 20 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familyhigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • In September 2026 said he supports giving parents the power to choose the best education for their children. (2026-09-23) source
  • Voted yes on SB 2 (2025), relating to the establishment of an education savings account program; it passed the House 86 to 61. (2025-04-17) source
• AI data centersWelcome them, but make them pay their full share of grid and water costsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In September 2026 said data centers should report resource use, bring their own power, conserve water through closed-loop systems and not shift utility costs onto local ratepayers. (2026-09-23) source
  • Said he committed in February 2026 to file legislation requiring data centers to address their energy and water demands, with public input and transparent permitting. (2026-09-23) source
  • Voted no on SB 6 (2025), relating to the planning for, interconnection and operation of, and costs related to providing service for certain electrical loads; it passed the House 103 to 25. (2025-05-27) source
• Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In September 2026 listed property tax relief among his top priorities. (2026-09-23) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 4 (2025), relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from school district ad valorem taxation; it was enacted. (2025) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 3972 (2023), relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation. (2023) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1280 (2021), the law banning abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned, which allows exceptions only for a life-threatening condition or serious impairment of a major bodily function. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on HB 1280 (2021); it passed the House 81 to 61. (2021-05-06) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 8 (2021), relating to abortion after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; it was enacted. (2021) source
  • Voted yes on HB 7 (2025, second called session), which set prohibitions on making and providing abortion-inducing drugs; it passed the House 82 to 48. (2025-08-28) source
• Religion in schoolsSupport laws requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and optional prayer periodsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 10 (2025), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; it passed the House 82 to 46. (2025-05-25) source
  • Voted yes on SB 11 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools; it passed the House 88 to 48. (2025-05-23) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 3448 (2023), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. (2023) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 1425 (2025), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools. (2025) source
• Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 13 (2025), relating to school library materials, local school library advisory councils and parental rights regarding library catalogs; it passed the House 86 to 55, and he voted yes on the conference report, 81 to 48. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted yes on HB 900 (2023), relating to the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries; it passed the House 95 to 52. (2023-04-20) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 1658 (2023), relating to parental access to records regarding library materials checked out from public school libraries. (2023) source
• DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 17 (2023), relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education; it passed the House 83 to 62. (2023-05-22) source
  • Voted yes on SB 12 (2025), relating to parental rights in public education and a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion in K-12; it passed the House 88 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
• ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In September 2026 listed securing the Texas border with Mexico among his top priorities. (2026-09-23) source
  • Voted yes on SB 4 (2023, fourth called session), relating to prohibitions on illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien; it passed the House 83 to 61. (2023-11-14) source
  • Voted yes on SB 8 (2025), relating to agreements between sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; it passed the House 86 to 47. (2025-05-25) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 82 (2023), relating to an interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall. (2023) source
• Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 14 (2023), relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria; it passed the House 87 to 56. (2023-05-15) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 14 (2023); it was enacted. (2023) source
• Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 15 (2023), relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions to compete based on biological sex; it passed the House 95 to 50. (2023-05-18) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 15 (2023); it was enacted. (2023) source
  • Voted yes on HB 25 (2021, third called session), relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex; it passed the House 76 to 54. (2021-10-14) source
• Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 9 (2025), relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including the conditions of and procedures for setting bail; it passed the House 118 to 25. (2025-05-20) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 9 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
  • Was listed as an author of HJR 115 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail under some circumstances. (2025) source
  • Voted yes on HB 1900 (2021), relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments; it passed the House 90 to 49. (2021-05-07) source
• Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 6 (2023), relating to the designation of poisoning with a controlled substance included in Penalty Group 1-B for purposes of the death certificate and to the criminal penalties for certain controlled substance offenses; it passed the House 124 to 21. (2023-04-28) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 1760 (2025), relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision. (2025) source
• RedistrictingState legislatures draw maps and may redraw any time, including for partisan advantagemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 4 (2025, second called session), relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas; it passed the House 88 to 52. (2025-08-20) source
• Election rulesStrict photo ID, paper ballots, cleaner voter rolls and fewer mail ballotsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on the conference committee report for SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security; the House adopted it 80 to 41. (2021-08-31) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 1 (2021, second called session), relating to election integrity and security. (2021) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 16 (2025), relating to requiring a person to submit proof of citizenship to register to vote. (2025) source
• Kids onlineBan social media accounts for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 186 (2025), relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children; it passed the House 116 to 25. (2025-04-30) source
• School vaccinesKeep requirements with simple personal-belief exemptionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 1586 (2025), relating to an exemption from required immunizations for school enrollment; it passed the House 83 to 54. (2025-05-14) source
  • Was listed as an author of HB 4587 (2025), relating to the provisional admission to an elementary or secondary school of students requesting certain immunization exemptions. (2025) source
• China policyGet tougher: broad tariffs, state bans on land purchases, and forced app salesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 17 (2025), relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; it passed the House 86 to 59. (2025-05-09) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SB 17 (2025); it was enacted. (2025) source
• Housing and growthLet the market build what is needed, with local reviewmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In September 2026 said he supports policies that fast track homebuilding, such as cutting red tape and accelerating permit and inspection approvals. (2026-09-23) source
  • Voted no on SB 15 (2025), relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
• HealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In September 2026 said he would fight for lower healthcare costs through price transparency, competition and patient choice. (2026-09-23) source
• MarijuanaNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on HB 441 (2021), relating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain marihuana possession offenses; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
  • Voted no on HB 218 (2023), a similar bill on the criminal and licensing consequences of marihuana possession; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
  • In September 2026 said he supports regulating hemp products with intoxicating levels of THC. (2026-09-23) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, Energy and climate, Texas power grid, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate.