The Honorable Dennis Bonnen was sworn in as Texas Speaker of the House on January 8, 2019. Elected to the post by his colleagues, Speaker Bonnen has set an early tone for unity among the House Chamber by empowering Members to work together to achieve meaningful results that address the state's most pressing issues. Speaker Bonnen believes in productive, efficient government that remains accountable to Texans while casting aside politics in favor of finding real solutions.

Speaker Bonnen has served in the Texas House of Representatives for over 20 years, representing the 25th House district that encompasses southern Brazoria County and the entirety of Matagorda County. First elected to the Legislature at the age of 24, Bonnen joined the House in 1997 and began his twelfth term of office in January 2019.

Prior to becoming Speaker of the House, Dennis Bonnen served for the past three legislative sessions as Speaker Pro Tempore. In the 84th and 85th sessions, he served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and in the 85th session as a member of the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee. Speaker Bonnen has previously served as Chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, Sunset Advisory Committee and the House Special Purpose Districts Committee, as Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee of Oversight of Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency, and as a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Speaker Bonnen was born and raised on the Gulf Coast and resides with his wife, Kim, and their two sons in Lake Jackson, Texas. While at home in Brazoria County, Speaker Bonnen is deeply involved in his community, serving as honorary chairman of Brazosport College's "Count on Us" campaign, on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement and B.I.G. Love Cancer Care Services, and as an honorary member of the Brazoria and Matagorda County Cavalries. He has served as honorary co-chairman of the Leukemia Society Light the Night Walk and Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament, and is an active supporter of the Brazoria County Fair, BACH, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, ActionS, Inc., and local Boys and Girls Clubs. As a lifelong champion for small businesses and economic development, Speaker Bonnen is proud to be a member of the Angleton, Brazosport, Sweeny, West Columbia, Brazoria, Bay City, Matagorda, Palacios, and Sargent Chambers of Commerce.

In addition to his legislative duties, Speaker Bonnen is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Heritage Bank. In 2009, the Houston Business Journal honored him with one of the inaugural "40 Under 40" awards.

Speaker Bonnen is a graduate of Angleton High School and graduated cum laude from St. Edward's University in Austin with a B.A. in Political Science. In 2001, St. Edward's honored him with their Alumni Achievement Award and he was inducted into the Angleton ISD Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2013.