Issues

The 80th Legislature convened on Tuesday, January 9, and will last for 140 days.  

The Texas House of Representatives is composed of 150 members, each elected for a two-year term. Members of the Texas House of Representatives represent districts of about 150,000 people each. House members are able to remain closely in tune to the needs and concerns of their constituents.

The Texas Senate is composed of 31 senators, each elected to staggering four-year terms. Senators serve approximately 550,000 people.

The first day of session for the Texas Legislature is largely ceremonial, organized with speeches and the administration of the oath of office. However, several important measures are decided in each chamber this first day.

Unlike the Texas Senate, where the presiding officer - the Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst - is a statewide elected official, the Texas House of Representatives elect their own presiding officer, the Speaker of the House.

This year Representative Tom Craddick was overwhelmingly chosen by his peers to serve a 3rd session as Speaker of the Texas House. During his acceptance speech, Speaker Craddick was joined by his wife, Nadine, their daughter Christi, their son Tommy and his wife and son, Laura and Tripp. He noted that state representative was the only elected position he has ever sought because he has the utmost respect and zeal for it. He went on to assure the other 149 members of the House that he believes his primary responsibility as Speaker is to help the other members fulfill their elected purpose.

The next order of business is for legislators to decide on the House rules for the session. Some legislative procedures are provided for in the state constitution, but additional rules can be adopted by each chamber of the legislature if approved by a majority vote of its members.

This session, the House approved rules that further opened the floor proceedings to the public.   Members decided to require the recording of member votes on final passage of all legislation, in addition to requiring a record vote if one member requests it.  The public will be able to follow floor debate by viewing record votes and amendments to bills in real time on the House Web site.  To find out how a member voted, view the text of bills and amendments, or read the House rules, visit http://www.legis.state.tx.us/.   

Once the House rules are drafted and approved, the Speaker then appoints the chairs and vice chairs of the committees that study legislation. The Speaker also decides which other representatives will serve on those committees, subject to seniority rules. Most members serve on two or three different committees.

After careful consideration and constant communication with House members, Speaker Tom Craddick released the committee assignments for the 80th session.  Speaker Pro Tempore will once again be the esteemed Representative Sylvester Turner of Houston.  The House Appropriations Committee will be chaired by Representative Warren Chisum of Pampa. 

Women were appointed to 21 leadership positions, including chair of the Higher Education Committee and the Business and Industry Committee.  Minority members now hold 21 leadership positions, including vice chairs of the Appropriations Committee and the Calendars Committee.  Freshmen members hold 12 leadership positions.  A full list of committee appointments can be viewed here.

After committees are announced and organized, the committees will begin to meet and debate as bills are referred to them. The House committee schedule can be found online at http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/cmteschd.php. To search for a bill or find out more information about the Texas legislative process visit http://www.legis.state.tx.us/.  

The House:

Of the 150 representatives now sworn in:
   - 118 are male and 32 are female;
   - 68 are Democrats and 82 are Republican; 
   - 24 members are freshmen.

The Senate:

Of the 31 senators sworn in:
   - 27 are male and 4 are female;  
   - 20 are Republicans and 11 are Democrats;  
   - 5 senators are freshmen.

The first session of the Texas Legislature convened on February 16, 1846 with 20 senators and 66 representatives.