79th Texas Legislature

Last updated

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.

Contents

Sessions

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.
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.

Party summary

Senate

AffiliationMembersNote
  Republican Party 19
  Democratic Party 12
'Total'31

House of Representatives

AffiliationMembersNote
  Republican Party 86
  Democratic Party 64
'Total'150

Officers

Senate

'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

SenatorPartyDistrictHome TownTook 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 DemocratJanuary 11, 2005
2 Dan Flynn Republican2003
3 Mark Homer Democrat1999
4 Betty Brown Republican1999
5 Bryan Hughes Republican2003
6 Leo Berman Republican1999
7 Tommy Merritt Republican1997
8 Byron Cook Republican2003
9 Roy Blake, Jr. Republican2005
10 Jim Pitts Republican1993
11 Chuck Hopson Democrat2001
12 Jim McReynolds Democrat1997
13 Lois Kolkhorst Republican2001
14 Fred Brown Republican1999
15 Rob Eissler Republican2003
16 Ruben Hope, Jr. Republican1999
17 Robby Cook Democrat1997
18 John Otto Democrat2005
19 Tuffy Hamilton Republican2003
20 Dan Gattis Republican2003
21 Allan Ritter Democrat1999
22 Joe Deshotel Democrat1999
23 Craig Eiland Democrat1995
24 Larry Taylor Republican2003
25 Dennis Bonnen Republican1997
26 Charles F. "Charlie" Howard Republican1995
27 Dora Olivo Democrat1997
28 Glenn Hegar Republican2003
29 Glenda Dawson Republican2003
30 Geanie W. Morrison Republican1999
31 Ryan Guillen Democrat2003
32 Gene Seaman Republican1997
33 Vilma Luna Democrat1993
34 Abel Herrero Democrat2005
35 Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles Democrat2005
36 Kino Flores Democrat1997
37 Rene O. Oliveira Democrat1991 (first time: 1981–1987)
38 Jim Solis Democrat1993
39 Mando Martinez Democrat2005
40 Aaron Pena Democrat2003
41 Veronica Gonzales Democrat2005
42 Richard Raymond Democrat2001 (first time: 1993–1999)
43 Juan Manuel Escobar Democrat2003
44 Edmund Kuempel Republican1983
45 Patrick Rose Democrat2003
46 Dawnna Dukes Democrat1995
47 Terry Keel Republican1997
48 Todd Baxter Republican2003
49 Elliott Naishtat Democrat1991
50 Mark Strama Democrat2005
51 Eddie Rodriguez Democrat2003
52 Mike Krusee Republican1993
53 Harvey Hilderbran Republican1989
54 Suzanna Gratia Hupp Republican1996
55 Dianne White Delisi Republican1991
56 Doc Anderson Republican2005
57 Jim Dunnam Democrat1997
58 Rob Orr Republican2005
59 Sid Miller Republican2001
60 Jim Keffer Republican1997
61 Phil King Republican1999
62 Larry Phillips Republican2003
63 Mary Denny Republican1993
64 Myra Crownover Republican2000
65 Burt Solomons Republican1995
66 Brian McCall Republican1991
67 Jerry Madden Republican1993
68 Rick Hardcastle Republican1999
69 David Farabee Democrat1999
70 Ken Paxton Republican2003
71 Bob Hunter Republican1986
72 Scott Campbell Republican2004
73 Carter Casteel Republican2003
74 Pete P. Gallego Democrat1991
75 Chente Quintanilla Democrat2003
76 Norma Chavez Democrat1997
77 Paul C. Moreno Democrat1975 (first time: 1967–1973)
78 Pat Haggerty Republican1989
79 Joe C. Pickett Democrat1995
80 Tracy O. King Democrat2005
81 Buddy West Republican1993
82 Tom Craddick Republican1969
83 Delwin Jones Republican1989 (first time: 1965–1981)
84 Carl H. Isett Republican1997
85 Pete Laney Democrat1973
86 John T. Smithee Republican1985
87 David Swinford Republican1991
88 Warren Chisum Republican1989
89 Jodie Laubenberg Republican2003
90 Lon Burnam Democrat1997
91 Bob E. Griggs Republican2003
92 Todd Smith Republican1997
93 Toby Goodman Republican1991
94 Kent Grusendorf Republican1987
95 Marc Veasey Democrat2005
96 Bill Zedler Republican2003
97 Anna Mowery Republican1988
98 Vicki Truitt Republican1999
99 Charlie Geren Republican2001
100 Terri Hodge Democrat1997
101 Elvira Reyna Republican1993
102 Tony Goolsby Republican1989
103 Rafael Anchia Democrat2005
104 Roberto R. Alonzo Democrat2003 (first time: 1993–1997)
105 Linda Harper-Brown Republican2003
106 Ray Allen Republican1993
107 Bill Keffer Republican2002
108 Dan Branch Republican2003
109 Helen Giddings Democrat1993
110 Jesse W. Jones Democrat1993
111 Yvonne Davis Democrat1993
112 Fred HillRepublican1989
113 Joe Driver Republican1993
114 Will Ford Hartnett Republican1991
115 Jim Jackson Republican2005
116 Trey Martinez Fischer Democrat2001
117 David McQuade Leibowitz Democrat2005
118 Charlie Uresti Democrat1997
119 Robert R. Puente Democrat1991
120 Ruth Jones McClendon Democrat1996
121 Vacant
122 Frank J. Corte, Jr. Republican1993
123 Mike Villarreal Democrat2000
124 Jose Menendez Democrat2001
125 Joaquin Castro Democrat2003
126 Peggy Hamric Republican1991
127 Joe Crabb Republican1993
128 Wayne Smith Republican2003
129 John E. Davis Republican1999
130 Corbin Van Arsdale Republican2003
131 Alma A. Allen Democrat2005
132 Bill Callegari Republican2001
133 Joe Nixon Republican1995
134 Martha Wong Republican2003
135 Gary Elkins Republican1995
136 Beverly Woolley Republican1995
137 Scott Hochberg Democrat1993
138 Dwayne Bohac Republican2003
139 Sylvester Turner Democrat1989
140 Kevin Bailey Democrat1991
141 Senfronia Thompson Democrat1973
142 Harold V. Dutton, Jr. Democrat1985
143 Joe E. Moreno Democrat1998
144 Robert E. Talton Republican1993
145 Rick Noriega Democrat1999
146 Al Edwards Democrat1979
147 Garnet Coleman Democrat1991
148 Jessica Farrar Democrat1995
149 Hubert Vo Democrat2005
150 Debbie Riddle Republican2002

^ : 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

DistrictOutgoing RepresentativeReason for VacancySuccessorDate 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 VacantRepresentative 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

Notable events