79th Texas Legislature

The 79th Texas Legislature met from 11 January to 30 May 2005 in regular session, and in consecutive called sessions from 21 June to 20 July (First called session) and 21 July to 19 August 2005 (Second called session). It met again in 2006 from 17 April to 16 May. Most of the members of the House of Representatives and 15 members of the Senate were elected in the 2004 general election; the other House members were elected in special elections held in 2006.

Sessions
  • 79th Regular session: 11 January 2005 – 30 May 2005
  • 79th First called session: 21 June 2005 – 20 July 2005
To consider legislation that addresses educator compensation, benefits and certification.
To consider legislation that provides for public school financial accountability and that increases transparency in school district financial reporting.
To consider legislation that provides for performance-based incentives to educators and schools that attain higher levels of student achievement.
To consider legislation that funds textbooks and that creates the instructional materials allotment for public schools.
To consider legislation that provides for charter school funding and reform.
To consider legislation that provides for modifications to the recapture provisions of the public school finance system.
To consider legislation that provides for November elections for public school boards of trustees.
To consider legislation providing funding for the public school finance system and the continuation of the Texas Education Agency.
To consider legislation providing for end-of-course examinations to be used in public schools.
To consider legislation that provides for increased accountability and intervention for schools failing to meet state standards.
To consider legislation that provides for local property tax rate compression and voter approval of local property tax rates.
To consider legislation that establishes indicators of college readiness and higher levels of student achievement in the public school accountability system.
Legislation relating to limiting the use of eminent domain to take private property for private parties or economic development purposes.
  • 79th Second called session: 21 July 2005 – 19 August 2005
To consider legislation to limit the ad valorem tax appraisals and rates of certain taxing units.
To consider legislation that provides ad valorem tax relief and protects taxpayers.
To consider legislation to increase the homestead ad valorem tax exemption.
Legislation that addresses educator compensation, benefits, and certification.
Legislation that provides for public school financial accountability and that increases transparency in school district financial reporting.
Legislation that provides for performance-based incentives to educators and schools that attain higher levels of student achievement.
Legislation that funds textbooks and that creates the instructional materials allotment for public schools.
Legislation that provides for charter school funding and reform.
Legislation that provides for modifications to the recapture provisions of the public school finance system.
Legislation that provides for November elections for public school boards of trustees.
Legislation providing funding for the public school finance system and the continuation of the Texas Education Agency.
Legislation providing for end-of-course examinations to be used in public schools.
Legislation that provides for increased accountability and intervention for schools failing to meet state standards.
Legislation that provides for local property tax rate compression and voter approval of local property tax rates.
Legislation that establishes indicators of college readiness and higher levels of student achievement in the public school accountability system.
Legislation relating to the authorization, issuance, and funding of tuition revenue bonds.
Legislation relating to an increase in the compensation of judges, including salary and retirement benefits.
Legislation related to further competition in the telecommunications market.
Legislation related to the provision of broadband over powerlines.
Legislation related to the issuance of state-issued certificate of franchise authority for cable and video services.
  • 79th Third called session: 17 April 2006

Party summary

Senate
Affiliation Members Note
  Republican Party 19
  Democratic Party 12
'Total' 31

House of Representatives
Affiliation Members Note
  Republican Party 86
  Democratic Party 64
'Total' 150

Officers

Senate
  • Lieutenant Governor: David Dewhurst, Republican
  • President Pro Tempore:
'Regular Session': Florence Shapiro, Republican
'Ad Interim' (30 May 2005-16 April 2006): Frank Madla, Democrat
'Ad Interim' (17 April 2006-8 January 2007): Royce West, Democrat

House of Representatives

Members

Members of the Seventy-ninth Texas Legislature at the beginning of the regular session, 11 January 2005:

Senate
Senator Party District Home Town Took Office
Kevin Eltife Republican 1 Tyler 2004
Bob Deuell Republican 2 Greenville 2003
Todd Staples Republican 3 Palestine 2000
Tommy Williams Republican 4 The Woodlands 2003
Steve Ogden Republican 5 Bryan 1997
Mario Gallegos, Jr. Democratic 6 Houston 1995
Jon Lindsay Republican 7 Houston 1997
Florence Shapiro Republican 8 Plano 1993
Chris Harris Republican 9 Arlington 1991
Kim Brimer Republican 10 Fort Worth 2003
Mike Jackson Republican 11 La Porte 1999
Jane Nelson Republican 12 Lewisville 1993
Rodney Ellis Democratic 13 Houston 1990
Gonzalo Barrientos Democratic 14 Austin 1985
John Whitmire Democratic 15 Houston 1983
John Carona Republican 16 Dallas 1996
Kyle Janek Republican 17 Houston 2002
Kenneth L. Armbrister Democratic 18 Katy 1987
Frank L. Madla Democratic 19 San Antonio 1993
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa Democratic 20 Mission 2002
Judith Zaffirini Democratic 21 Laredo 1987
Kip Averitt Republican 22 Waco 2002
Royce West Democratic 23 Dallas 1993
Troy Fraser Republican 24 Horseshoe Bay 1997
Jeff Wentworth Republican 25 San Antonio 1993
Leticia R. Van de Putte Democratic 26 San Antonio 1999
Eddie Lucio, Jr. Democratic 27 Brownsville 1991
Robert L. Duncan Republican 28 Lubbock 1997
Eliot Shapleigh Democratic 29 El Paso 1997
Craig Estes Republican 30 Wichita Falls 2001
Kel Seliger Republican 31 Amarillo 2004

House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativePartyTook office
1 Stephen James Frost Democrat January 11, 2005
2 Dan Flynn Republican 2003
3 Mark Homer Democrat 1999
4 Betty Brown Republican 1999
5 Bryan Hughes Republican 2003
6 Leo Berman Republican 1999
7 Tommy Merritt Republican 1997
8 Byron Cook Republican 2003
9 Roy Blake, Jr. Republican 2005
10 Jim Pitts Republican 1993
11 Chuck Hopson Democrat 2001
12 Jim McReynolds Democrat 1997
13 Lois Kolkhorst Republican 2001
14 Fred Brown Republican 1999
15 Rob Eissler Republican 2003
16 Ruben Hope, Jr. Republican 1999
17 Robby Cook Democrat 1997
18 John Otto Democrat 2005
19 Tuffy Hamilton Republican 2003
20 Dan Gattis Republican 2003
21 Allan Ritter Democrat 1999
22 Joe Deshotel Democrat 1999
23 Craig Eiland Democrat 1995
24 Larry Taylor Republican 2003
25 Dennis Bonnen Republican 1997
26 Charles F. "Charlie" Howard Republican 1995
27 Dora Olivo Democrat 1997
28 Glenn Hegar Republican 2003
29 Glenda Dawson Republican 2003
30 Geanie W. Morrison Republican 1999
31 Ryan Guillen Democrat 2003
32 Gene Seaman Republican 1997
33 Vilma Luna Democrat 1993
34 Abel Herrero Democrat 2005
35 Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles Democrat 2005
36 Kino Flores Democrat 1997
37 Rene O. Oliveira Democrat 1991 (first time: 1981–1987)
38 Jim Solis Democrat 1993
39 Mando Martinez Democrat 2005
40 Aaron Pena Democrat 2003
41 Veronica Gonzales Democrat 2005
42 Richard Raymond Democrat 2001 (first time: 1993–1999)
43 Juan Manuel Escobar Democrat 2003
44 Edmund Kuempel Republican 1983
45 Patrick Rose Democrat 2003
46 Dawnna Dukes Democrat 1995
47 Terry Keel Republican 1997
48 Todd Baxter Republican 2003
49 Elliott Naishtat Democrat 1991
50 Mark Strama Democrat 2005
51 Eddie Rodriguez Democrat 2003
52 Mike Krusee Republican 1993
53 Harvey Hilderbran Republican 1989
54 Suzanna Gratia Hupp Republican 1996
55 Dianne White Delisi Republican 1991
56 Doc Anderson Republican 2005
57 Jim Dunnam Democrat 1997
58 Rob Orr Republican 2005
59 Sid Miller Republican 2001
60 Jim Keffer Republican 1997
61 Phil King Republican 1999
62 Larry Phillips Republican 2003
63 Mary Denny Republican 1993
64 Myra Crownover Republican 2000
65 Burt Solomons Republican 1995
66 Brian McCall Republican 1991
67 Jerry Madden Republican 1993
68 Rick Hardcastle Republican 1999
69 David Farabee Democrat 1999
70 Ken Paxton Republican 2003
71 Bob Hunter Republican 1986
72 Scott Campbell Republican 2004
73 Carter Casteel Republican 2003
74 Pete P. Gallego Democrat 1991
75 Chente Quintanilla Democrat 2003
76 Norma Chavez Democrat 1997
77 Paul C. Moreno Democrat 1975 (first time: 1967–1973)
78 Pat Haggerty Republican 1989
79 Joe C. Pickett Democrat 1995
80 Tracy O. King Democrat 2005
81 Buddy West Republican 1993
82 Tom Craddick Republican 1969
83 Delwin Jones Republican 1989 (first time: 1965–1981)
84 Carl H. Isett Republican 1997
85 Pete Laney Democrat 1973
86 John T. Smithee Republican 1985
87 David Swinford Republican 1991
88 Warren Chisum Republican 1989
89 Jodie Laubenberg Republican 2003
90 Lon Burnam Democrat 1997
91 Bob E. Griggs Republican 2003
92 Todd Smith Republican 1997
93 Toby Goodman Republican 1991
94 Kent Grusendorf Republican 1987
95 Marc Veasey Democrat 2005
96 Bill Zedler Republican 2003
97 Anna Mowery Republican 1988
98 Vicki Truitt Republican 1999
99 Charlie Geren Republican 2001
100 Terri Hodge Democrat 1997
101 Elvira Reyna Republican 1993
102 Tony Goolsby Republican 1989
103 Rafael Anchia Democrat 2005
104 Roberto R. Alonzo Democrat 2003 (first time: 1993–1997)
105 Linda Harper-Brown Republican 2003
106 Ray Allen Republican 1993
107 Bill Keffer Republican 2002
108 Dan Branch Republican 2003
109 Helen Giddings Democrat 1993
110 Jesse W. Jones Democrat 1993
111 Yvonne Davis Democrat 1993
112 Fred Hill Republican 1989
113 Joe Driver Republican 1993
114 Will Ford Hartnett Republican 1991
115 Jim Jackson Republican 2005
116 Trey Martinez Fischer Democrat 2001
117 David McQuade Leibowitz Democrat 2005
118 Charlie Uresti Democrat 1997
119 Robert R. Puente Democrat 1991
120 Ruth Jones McClendon Democrat 1996
121 Vacant
122 Frank J. Corte, Jr. Republican 1993
123 Mike Villarreal Democrat 2000
124 Jose Menendez Democrat 2001
125 Joaquin Castro Democrat 2003
126 Peggy Hamric Republican 1991
127 Joe Crabb Republican 1993
128 Wayne Smith Republican 2003
129 John E. Davis Republican 1999
130 Corbin Van Arsdale Republican 2003
131 Alma A. Allen Democrat 2005
132 Bill Callegari Republican 2001
133 Joe Nixon Republican 1995
134 Martha Wong Republican 2003
135 Gary Elkins Republican 1995
136 Beverly Woolley Republican 1995
137 Scott Hochberg Democrat 1993
138 Dwayne Bohac Republican 2003
139 Sylvester Turner Democrat 1989
140 Kevin Bailey Democrat 1991
141 Senfronia Thompson Democrat 1973
142 Harold V. Dutton, Jr. Democrat 1985
143 Joe E. Moreno Democrat 1998
144 Robert E. Talton Republican 1993
145 Rick Noriega Democrat 1999
146 Al Edwards Democrat 1979
147 Garnet Coleman Democrat 1991
148 Jessica Farrar Democrat 1995
149 Hubert Vo Democrat 2005
150 Debbie Riddle Republican 2002

^ : In the 2004 General Election, Elizabeth Ames Jones won the District 121 seat but declined it, having received an appointment as a member of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Membership changes

Senate

None

House of Representatives
District Outgoing Representative Reason for Vacancy Successor Date of Successor's Installation
District 48 Todd Baxter Representative Baxter resigned on 1 November 2005 for personal reasons. Donna Howard To be determined
District 106 Ray Allen Representative Allen resigned on 20 January 2006 for personal reasons. Kirk England To be determined
District 121 Vacant Representative Elizabeth Ames Jones was re-elected but declined her seat after being appointed to the Railroad Commission of Texas. Joe Straus 10 February 2005
District 143 Joe Moreno Representative Moreno was killed in a one-car rollover accident 6 May 2005. Ana E. Hernandez 20 December 2005
  • ^ District 48: A special election was held on 17 January 2006. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates will face each other in a runoff. Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, as acting governor, set the date of the runoff for 14 February 2006. . Donna Howard won the runoff and was later sworn in.
  • ^ District 106: A special election was held on 28 February 2006 . Kirk England won, but, as of 6 March 2006, has not yet been sworn in.
  • ^ District 121: A special election was held on 5 February 2005. Joe Straus received a majority of the votes. He was sworn in five days later, on 10 February 2005.
  • ^ District 143: A special election was held on 8 November 2005. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff on 10 December 2005. Ana E. Hernandez won the runoff and was sworn in 10 days later, on 20 December 2005.

Notable events
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