81st Texas Legislature

The 81st Texas Legislature began meeting in regular session on 11 January 2009. The regular session adjourned sine die on June 1, 2009.

Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas, called a special session of the Legislature on July 1, 2009. The Legislature passed two bills, both related to the sunset process, and adjourned sine die on July 10.

All members of the House of Representatives and 13 members of the Senate were elected on 4 November 2008.

Party summary

Senate

Affiliation		Members	Note
	Republican Party	19
	Democratic Party	12
Total		31

House of Representatives

Affiliation		Members	Note
	Republican Party	77
	Democratic Party	73
Total		150

The session began in January 2009 with 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats in the House. On November 6, 2009, Democrat Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville announced he was changing his affiliation to Republican, leading to the present 77-73 composition. On February 3, 2010, Rep. Terri Hodge (D—Dallas) announced she would resign due to pending felony charges against her. When this is finalized, the House composition will be 77-72 with one vacancy.

The composition of the State Senate has remained unchanged since the beginning of the 81st Legislature.

Officers

Senate

• Lieutenant Governor: David Dewhurst (R)
• President Pro Tempore: Robert Duncan (R)

House of Representatives

• Speaker of the House: Joe Straus (R-San Antonio)
• Speaker Pro Tempore: Craig Eiland (D-Galveston)

Members

Senate

Senator		Party	District	Home Town	Took Office	Kevin Eltife	Republican	1	Tyler	2004	Bob Deuell	Republican	2	Greenville	2003	Robert Nichols	Republican	3	Jacksonville	2007	Tommy Williams	Republican	4	The Woodlands	2003	Steve Ogden	Republican	5	Bryan	1997	Mario Gallegos, Jr.	Democratic	6	Houston	1995	Dan Patrick	Republican	7	Houston	2007	Florence Shapiro	Republican	8	Plano	1993	Chris Harris	Republican	9	Arlington	1991	Wendy Davis	Democrat	10	Fort Worth	2009	Mike Jackson	Republican	11	La Porte	1999	Jane Nelson	Republican	12	Lewisville	1993	Rodney Ellis	Democratic	13	Houston	1990	Kirk Watson	Democratic	14	Austin	2007	John Whitmire	Democratic	15	Houston	1983	John Carona	Republican	16	Dallas	1996	Joan Huffman	Republican	17	Southside Place	2008	Glenn Hegar	Republican	18	Katy	2007	Carlos I. Uresti	Democratic	19	San Antonio	2006	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

Representative		Party	Home Town/City	District ↑	County Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Stephen Frost || D || New Boston || 1 || Bowie, Cass, Marion, Morris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Dan Flynn || R || Canton || 2 || Rains, Hunt, Van Zandt Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Mark Homer || D || Paris || 3 || Lamar, Hopkins, Delta, Franklin, Titus, Red River Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Betty Brown || R || Athens || 4 || Henderson, Kaufman Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Bryan Hughes || R || Marshall || 5 || Camp, Upshur, Wood, Harrison Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Leo Berman || R || Tyler || 6 || Smith Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Tommy Merritt || R || Longview || 7 || Smith, Gregg Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Byron Cook || R || Corsicana || 8 || Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, Navarro Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Wayne Christian || R || Center || 9 || Shelby, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Sabine, Jasper Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jim Pitts || R || Waxahachie || 10 || Ellis, Hill Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Chuck Hopson || R || Jacksonville || 11 || Panola, Rusk, Cherokee, Houston Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Jim McReynolds || D || Lufkin || 12 || Angelina, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Lois W. Kolkhorst || R || Brenham || 13 || Austin, Grimes, Walker, Washington Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Fred Brown || R || Bryan || 14 || Brazos Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Rob Eissler || R || The Woodlands || 15 || Montgomery Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Brandon Creighton || R || Conroe || 16 || Montgomery Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Tim Kleinschmidt || R || Eagle Lake || 17 || Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Lee Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || John Otto || R || Dayton || 18 || Montgomery, Liberty, Polk Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton || R || Mauriceville || 19 || Hardin, Newton, Orange Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Dan Gattis || R || Georgetown || 20 || Milam, Williamson Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Allan Ritter || D || Nederland || 21 || Jefferson Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joe D. Deshotel || D || Port Arthur || 22 || Jefferson, Orange Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Craig Eiland || D || Galveston || 23 || Chambers, Galveston Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Larry Taylor || R || League City || 24 || Galveston Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Dennis Bonnen || R || Angleton || 25 || Brazoria Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Charlie F. Howard || R || Sugar Land || 26 || Fort Bend Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Dora Olivo || D || Missouri City || 27 || Fort Bend Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || John Zerwas || R || Katy || 28 || Wharton, Fort Bend, Waller Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Randy Weber || R || Pearland || 29 || Brazoria, Matagorda Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Geanie Morrison || R || Victoria || 30 || Refugio, Victoria, Jackson, DeWitt, Lavaca Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Ryan Guillen || D || Rio Grande || 31 || Duval, Starr, Webb, Zapata Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Todd Hunter || R || Portland || 32 || Calhoun, Aransas, San Patricio, Nueces Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Solomon Ortiz, Jr. || D || Corpus Christi || 33 || Nueces Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Abel Herrero || D || Corpus Christi || 34 || Nueces Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles || D || Beeville || 35 || Atascosa, Karnes, McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Jim Wells, Goliad Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Ismael "Kino" Flores || D || Mission || 36 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Rene O. Oliveira || D || Brownsville || 37 || Cameron Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Eddie Lucio III || D || San Benito || 38 || Cameron Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Armando Martinez || D || Weslaco || 39 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Aaron Peña || D || Edinburg || 40 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Veronica Gonzalez || D || McAllen || 41 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Richard Peña Raymond || D || Laredo || 42 || Webb Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Tara Rios Ybarra || D || Kingsville || 43 || Jim Hogg, Brooks, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, Cameron Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Edmund Kuempel || R || Seguin || 44 || Wilson, Guadalupe, Gonzales Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Patrick Rose || D || Austin || 45 || Blanco, Hays, Caldwell Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Dawnna Dukes || D || Austin || 46 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Valinda Bolton || D || Austin || 47 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Donna Howard || D || Austin || 48 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Elliott Naishtat || D || Austin || 49 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Mark Strama || D || Austin || 50 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Eddie Rodriguez || D || Austin || 51 || Travis Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Diana Maldonado || D || Round Rock || 52 || Williamson Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Harvey Hilderbran || R || Kerrville || 53 || Crockett, Sutton, Schleicher, Real, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, Mason, Llano, San Saba, McCulloch, Concho, Coleman, Runnels, Callahan Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jimmie Don Aycock || R || Lampasas || 54 || Lampasas, Burnet, Bell Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Ralph Sheffield || R || Temple || 55 || Bell Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Charles "Doc" Anderson || R || Waco || 56 || McLennan Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Jim Dunnam || D || Waco || 57 || McLennan, Falls, Leon, Madison, Robertson Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Rob Orr || R || Burleson || 58 || Bosque, Johnson Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Sid Miller || R || Stephenville || 59 || Erath, Comanche, Mills, Hamilton, Coryell, Somervell Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jim Keffer || R || Eastland || 60 || Brown, Eastland, Shackelford, Stephens, Palo Pinto, Hood Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Phil King || R || Weatherford || 61 || Parker, Wise Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Larry Phillips || R || Sherman || 62 || Fannin, Grayson Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Tan Parker || R || Flower Mound || 63 || Denton Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Myra Crownover || R || Lake Dallas || 64 || Denton Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Burt R. Solomons || R || Carrollton || 65 || Denton Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Brian McCall || R || Plano || 66 || Collin Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jerry Madden || R || Plano || 67 || Collin Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Rick Hardcastle || R || Vernon || 68 || Motley, Dickens, Cottle, King, Hardeman, Foard, Knox, Haskell, Wilbarger, Baylor, Throckmorton, Young, Jack, Clay, Montague, Cooke Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || David Farabee || D || Wichita Falls || 69 || Wichita, Archer Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Ken Paxton || R || McKinney || 70 || Collin Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Susan King || R || Abilene || 71 || Nolan, Taylor Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Drew Darby || R || San Angelo || 72 || Coke, Mitchell, Scurry, Tom Green Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Nathan Macias || R || Spring Branch || 73 || Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Bandera Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Pete Gallego || D || Alpine || 74 || Uvalde, Edwards, Val Verde, Terrell, Pecos, Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis, Ward, Reeves, Loving, Culberson, Hudspeth Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Chente Quintanilla || D || El Paso || 75 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Norma Chavez || D || El Paso || 76 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Paul Moreno || D || El Paso || 77 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joseph E. Moody || D || El Paso || 78 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joe Pickett || D || El Paso || 79 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Tracy O. King || D || Eagle Pass || 80 || Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, La Salle, Frio, Medina Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Tryon D. Lewis || || || 81 || Andrews, Winkler, Ector Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Tom Craddick || R || Midland || 82 || Crane, Upton, Midland, Martin, Dawson Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Delwin Jones || R || Lubbock || 83 || Lubbock, Hockley, Cochran, Yoakum, Gaines Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Carl H. Isett || R || Lubbock || 84 || Lubbock Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joe Heflin || D || Crosbyton || 85 || Reagan, Irion, Sterling, Glasscock, Howard, Borden, Terry, Lynn, Garza, Crosby, Kent, Stonewall, Fisher, Jones, Hale, Floyd Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || John T. Smithee || R || Amarillo || 86 || Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Randall Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || David Swinford || R || Amarillo || 87 || Sherman, Moore, Carson, Potter Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Warren Chisum || R || Pampa || 88 || Parmer, Bailey, Lamb, Castro, Swisher, Armstrong, Briscoe, Hall, Donley, Collingsworth, Childress, Gray, Wheeler, Hutchison, Roberts, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Hansford Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jodie Anne Laubenberg || R || Rockwall || 89 || Rockwall, Collin Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Lon Burnam || D || Fort Worth || 90 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Kelly Hancock || R || Fort Worth || 91 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Todd Smith || R || Bedford || 92 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Paula Pierson || D || Arlington || 93 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Diane Patrick || R || Arlington || 94 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Marc Veasey || D || Fort Worth || 95 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Chris Turner || D || Arlington || 96 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Mark Shelton || R || Fort Worth || 97 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Vicki Truitt || R || Southlake || 98 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Charlie Geren || R || River Oaks || 99 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Terri Hodge || D || Dallas || 100 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Robert Miklos || D || Mesquite || 101 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Carol Kent || D || Dallas || 102 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Rafael Anchia || D || Dallas || 103 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Roberto R. Alonzo || D || Dallas || 104 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Linda Harper-Brown || R || Irving || 105 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Kirk England [1] || D || Grand Prairie || 106 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Allen Vaught || D || Dallas || 107 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Dan Branch|| R || Dallas || 108 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Helen Giddings || D || De Soto || 109 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Barbara Mallory Caraway || D || Dallas || 110 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Yvonne Davis || D || Dallas || 111 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Angie Chen Button || R || Richardson || 112 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Joe Driver || R || Garland || 113 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Will Hartnett || R || Dallas || 114 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Jim Jackson || R || Carrollton || 115 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Trey Martinez Fischer|| D || San Antonio || 116 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || David McQuade Leibowitz || D || San Antonio || 117 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joe Farias|| D || San Antonio || 118 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Roland Gutierrez || D || San Antonio || 119 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Ruth McClendon || D || San Antonio || 120 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Joe Straus|| R || San Antonio || 121 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Frank Corte, Jr. || R || San Antonio || 122 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Mike Villarreal || D || San Antonio || 123 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Jose Menendez || D || San Antonio || 124 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Joaquin Castro || D || San Antonio || 125 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Patricia Harless || R || Spring || 126 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Joe Crabb || R || Kingwood || 127 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Wayne Smith || R || Baytown || 128 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || John E. Davis || R || Houston || 129 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Allen Fletcher || R || Houston || 130 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Alma Allen || D || Houston || 131 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || William "Bill" Callegari || R || Houston || 132 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Kristi Thibaut || D || Houston || 133 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Ellen Cohen || D || Houston || 134 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Gary Elkins || R || Houston || 135 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Beverly Woolley || R || Houston || 136 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Scott Hochberg || D || Houston || 137 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Dwayne Bohac || R || Houston || 138 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Sylvester Turner || D || Houston || 139 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Armando Walle || D || Houston || 140 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Senfronia Thompson || D || Houston || 141 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Harold V. Dutton, Jr. || D || Houston || 142 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Ana Hernandez || D || Houston || 143 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Ken Legler || R || Pasadena || 144 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Carol Alvarado || D || Houston || 145 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Al Edwards || D || Houston || 146 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Garnet Coleman || D || Houston || 147 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Jessica Cristina Farrar || D || Houston || 148 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic/row || Hubert Vo || D || Houston || 149 || Harris Template:American politics/party colors/Republican/row || Debbie Riddle || R || Houston || 150 || Harris

External links

• Texas Legislature Online
• Texas Senate
• Texas House of Representatives
• Election Results from the Office of the Secretary of State
• Legislative Reference Library