Sylvester Turner

Full Name: Sylvester Turner

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	139	Jan 13, 2015 - Jan 1, 2016	84th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 8, 2013 - Jan 13, 2015	83rd	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 11, 2011 - Jan 8, 2013	82nd	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 13, 2009 - Jan 11, 2011	81st	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 9, 2007 - Jan 13, 2009	80th	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Speaker Pro Tem, 1/29/2007.	Harris
H	139	Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 9, 2007	79th	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Speaker Pro Tem, 1/27/2005.	Harris
H	139	Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 11, 2005	78th ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Speaker Pro Tem, 1/30/2003.	Harris
H	139	Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003	77th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001	76th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999	75th ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997	74th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995	73rd	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993	72nd	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	139	Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991	71st	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris

(1) Sylvester Turner resignation letter to Speaker Joe Straus, 12/30/2015, effective 1/1/2016 at 9:00 am. Speaker of the House.
(2) Proclamation, 1/15/2016, ordering special election in House District 139 on 5/7/2016 to serve out unexpired term of Sylvester Turner. Governor Greg Abbott.
(3) Appointed Speaker Pro Tempore, 78th Legislature, 1/30/2003. Speaker of the House.
(4) Absent for roll of members-elect, 1/14/1997, S. Turner sworn later that day, p. 19. House Journal.
(5) Sworn 1/14/1997. Oaths of Office.

Terms of Service top

House District 139
Jan 13, 2015 - Jan 1, 2016
Legislatures: 84th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 8, 2013 - Jan 13, 2015
Legislatures: 83rd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 11, 2011 - Jan 8, 2013
Legislatures: 82nd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 13, 2009 - Jan 11, 2011
Legislatures: 81st
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 9, 2007 - Jan 13, 2009
Legislatures: 80th
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/29/2007.
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 9, 2007
Legislatures: 79th
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/27/2005.
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 11, 2005
Legislatures: 78th ⁽³⁾
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/30/2003.
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003
Legislatures: 77th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001
Legislatures: 76th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999
Legislatures: 75th ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997
Legislatures: 74th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995
Legislatures: 73rd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993
Legislatures: 72nd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 139
Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991
Legislatures: 71st
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

84th Legislature - Address by Representative S. Turner on a Matter of Personal Privilege, 5/31/2015, pp. 5767-5769. House Journal.
84th Legislature, R.S., HR 3525. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
85th Legislature, R.S., HR 452, celebrating Black History Month and honoring the leadership and vision of African American lawmakers. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
87th Legislature, R.S., HR 1421. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston. City of Houston.
Biographical sketch, 78th Legislature. Texas House of Representatives.
Biographical sketch, 82nd Legislature. Texas House of Representatives.
Biographical sketch, "Speaker of the House: Sylvester Turner's Rhetorical Force Versus George Bush's Education Agenda," 5/19/1995. Texas Observer.
Legislative profile, 74th Legislature, 1995. "Scenes From the 74th: The Laney-Bush Session," 6/16/1995. Texas Observer.

Other Resources

Honorable Mention, "Legislative Stars Shine Through Difficult Session," Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 1995, pp. 8-9, 29 The Classroom Teacher: The Magazine of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
Mentioned in Minority Civil Rights and the Texas Legislature, 2018.

Photographs

Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 83rd Legislature, Texas House of Representatives
Photograph. Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, Speaker of the House Tom Craddick and parliamentarian Terry Keel. 2007. Photo courtesy of Terry Keel, 80th Legislature, Donated Material
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 79th Legislature, Members of the 79th Legislature Texas House of Representatives (CD-RW)
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 74th Legislature, 1995.
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 79th Legislature, 2005.

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

71st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
72nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
73rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
74th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
75th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
76th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
77th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
78th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
79th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
80th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
81st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
82nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
83rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
84th session composite photo of House members (House chamber, east wall. 2W.5). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

84th R.S. - 2015 Appropriations (Vice Chair) Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles I, IV, and V (General Government, the Judiciary, and Criminal Justice and Public Safety) (Chair) State Affairs
83rd R.S. - 2013 Appropriations (Vice Chair) Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles I, IV, and V (General Government, the Judiciary, and Criminal Justice and Public Safety) (Chair) Economic Stabilization Fund Balance, Select Fiscal Impact of Texas Border Support Operations, Select State Affairs
82nd R.S. - 2011 Appropriations (Vice Chair) Appropriations Subcommittee on the Current Fiscal Condition General Revenue Dedicated Accounts, Interim State Affairs
81st R.S. - 2009 Business and Industry Criminal Justice, Oversight Fiscal Stability, Select (Vice Chair) State Affairs
80th R.S. - 2007 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair) Calendars Criminal Justice, Oversight Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects, Select Hurricane Ike Storm Devastation to the Texas Gulf Coast, Select (Chair) Operation and Management of the Texas Youth Commission, Select Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
79th R.S. - 2005 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair) Calendars Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
78th R.S. - 2003 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Articles IV and V) (Chair) Calendars Higher Education, Interim Higher Education, Legislative Oversight Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
77th R.S. - 2001 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Co-Chair) Calendars State Affairs (Vice Chair)
76th R.S. - 1999 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair) Calendars Electric Utility Restructuring, Legislative Oversight State Affairs (Vice Chair)
75th R.S. - 1997 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair) Appropriations Subcommittee on Dedicated Funds (Chair) Calendars State Affairs (Vice Chair)
74th R.S. - 1995 Appropriations Calendars State Affairs (Vice Chair)
73rd R.S. - 1993 Calendars (Vice Chair) Corrections Public Utility Commission, Interim State Affairs Uniform Jury Handbook, Legislative Oversight
72nd R.S. - 1991 Energy Energy Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight (Vice Chair) House Administration Labor and Employment Relations Labor and Employment Relations Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight
71st R.S. - 1989 Energy Job Training Partnership Act Monitoring Judicial Selection Labor and Employment Relations Labor and Employment Relations Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight

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