Texas State Representative, District 45 (Hays County)

Erin Zwiener is a Democrat who has represented Texas House District 45, which covers the I-35 corridor in Hays County, since January 2019²⁵. She describes herself as a conservationist and educator and founded the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus⁴⁵. She is seeking a fifth term on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot against Republican Tennyson G. Moreno¹.

Where they stand 16 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Property taxesKeep cutting them and cap how fast they can risehigh

  Said · high confidence

  • Her campaign site says the 2023 session delivered nearly $13 billion of property tax relief through a higher homestead exemption, lower school tax rates and appraisal caps on non-homestead property, and that the state should pay at least 50 percent of public school costs. (2026) source
  • Was listed as the author of HJR 6 (2021, second called session), a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the school district homestead exemption. (2021) source
  • Was listed as a House cosponsor of SJR 2 (2025), a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the residence homestead exemption. (2025) source
• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolshigh

  Said · high confidence

  • Her campaign site opposes school vouchers, saying they would defund neighborhood public schools, and says she will keep fighting for public schools. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on the Raney amendment (Amendment No. 2) to HB 1 (2023, fourth called session), which struck Article 6 from the bill; Article 6 of the committee report is the education savings account program that could pay for private school. The amendment was adopted 84 to 63. (2023-11-17) source
• MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says cannabis should be made legal for medical and recreational use in Texas, in a regulated market where buyers must prove their age. (2026) source
  • Is listed as the author of HB 441 (2021), which reduced the criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 88 to 40. (2021-04-30) source
  • Voted yes on HB 218 (2023), which reduced criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana; it passed the House 87 to 59. (2023-04-27) source
• GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she supports closing background check loopholes and safe storage rules, raising the purchase age for assault-style weapons to 21, and restricting large magazines; it describes her as a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. (2026) source
  • Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 131 (2019), relating to extreme risk protective orders and the offense of unlawful transfer of a firearm. (2019) source
• Texas power gridConnect more to neighboring grids for backupmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she is a leader in the House on updating the aging electrical grid, establishing more interconnection with neighboring grids, and investing in energy efficiency. (2026) source
• Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she founded and chairs the Texas Energy and Climate Caucus and works to remove barriers to battery storage, green hydrogen, carbon capture and electric vehicles to speed decarbonization. (2026) source
• AI data centersAllow them case by case, with strict local rules on siting, noise and watermedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A she said her priorities on data centers are ending tax incentives, strong regulations on water, energy use and noise, and giving counties authority to say no to industrial developments. (2026-08-24) source
• Campaign financeKeep today's rules: capped gifts to candidates, unlimited independent spendingmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says Texas has no contribution limits for state elections and that she has filed legislation for a $5,000 individual contribution limit. (2026) source
  • Was listed as the author of HB 1020 (2025), relating to campaign contribution limits for certain offices. (2025) source
• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she has carried legislation to add student IDs to acceptable voter ID and supports online and same-day voter registration and mail-in ballots for all Texans. (2026) source
  • Was listed as the author of HB 1003 (2025), relating to acceptable forms of identification for voting. (2025) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says legislators should not draw district maps and calls for a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission. (2026) source
• HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says the biggest step Texas can take on health coverage and costs is to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. (2026) source
  • Was listed as the author of HB 2019 (2025), relating to expanding Medicaid eligibility for certain individuals younger than 26. (2025) source
• Curriculum and booksKeep access broad; removals should be raremedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says librarians and teachers are being bullied into removing books and that she supports inclusive education for every Texas student. (2026) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says she will fight to restore access to safe and legal abortion. (2026) source
  • Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 1362 (2021), relating to the coverage and provision of abortion under a health benefit plan and certain state programs. (2021) source
• Religion in schoolsNone from the school: no required displays, prayer periods or Bible lessonslow

  Said · low confidence

  • In an August 2026 Community Impact Q&A she listed strengthening the separation of church and state among her top priorities. (2026-08-24) source
• Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downlow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on SB 15 (2025), which bars certain large cities from requiring large minimum lot sizes for new homes; it passed the House 86 to 43. (2025-05-28) source
  • Voted yes on the final conference version of SB 15 (2025); it was adopted 78 to 57. (2025-06-01) source
• Death penaltyNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was listed as a House coauthor of HB 140 (2021), relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with severe mental illness. (2021) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Immigration, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Gender care for minors, Term limits, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, China policy.