Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	15	Jan 10, 2023 - Jan 14, 2025	88th (1)	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 8, 2019 - Jan 10, 2023	87th   86th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 13, 2015 - Jan 8, 2019	85th   84th   85th   84th	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Dean of the Senate. (85th) Dean of the Senate. (84th)	Harris
S	15	Jan 8, 2013 - Jan 13, 2015	83rd (2)	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Dean of the Senate. (83rd)	Harris
S	15	Jan 11, 2011 - Jan 8, 2013	82nd (3)	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Dean of the Senate. (82nd)	Harris
S	15	Jan 9, 2007 - Jan 11, 2011	81st   80th   81st   80th	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Dean of the Senate. (81st) Dean of the Senate. (80th)	Harris
S	15	Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 9, 2007	79th   78th (4)   79th   78th (4)	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Dean of the Senate. (79th) Dean of the Senate. (78th)	Harris
S	15	Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003	77th (5)	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 9, 2001	76th   75th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997	74th (6)	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995	73rd (7) (8) (9)	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Senate President Pro Tempore (73rd)	Harris
S	15	Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993	72nd (10)	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 8, 1991	71st   70th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	15	Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 13, 1987	69th   68th (11)	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	82	Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983	67th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	82	Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981	66th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	82	Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979	65th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	82	Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977	64th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	82	Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975	63rd	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris

(1) 88th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/2023, SR 9, pp. 26-27. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(2) 83rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/23/2013, SR 36, pp. 81-82. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(3) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 2012 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(4) 78th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/2003, SR 7, pp. 15-16. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(5) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 2002 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(6) 74th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1995, pp. 75-76. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(7) 73rd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 5/31/1993. Senate Journal.
(8) 73rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/25/1993, pp. 589-590. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(9) Due to redistricting litigation, entire Senate went up for reelection in 1994. See also Clips database, 4/6/1993 - 4/8/1993, Redistricting - Legislature; and Guide to 2001 Redistricting - Appendix A, 1990s Redistricting (Texas Legislative Council). Terrazas v. Slagle, 821 F.Supp. 1162 (April 5, 1993), 1993.
(10) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1992 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(11) 68th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/17/1983, p. 495. Drew 4-year term (also see message from President, p. 467). Senate Journal.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Resolutions and Journal entries

• 67th Legislature, 2nd C.S., HR 63. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
• 69th Legislature, 2nd C.S., SR 8. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
• 72nd Legislature, 1st C.S., SR 262. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
• 83rd Legislature, R.S., SR 9, recognizing Senator John Whitmire, Dean of the Texas Senate, for his 40 years of outstanding service in the Texas Legislature. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

• Biographical sketch, photos, program. Senator John Whitmire, November 19, 1994, G750 94-11. Governor for a Day.
• Legislative profile, 74th Legislature, 1995. "Scenes From the 74th: The Laney-Bush Session," 6/16/1995. Texas Observer.
• Biographical sketch, 82nd Legislature. Texas Senate.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 68th Legislature, 1983.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 69th Legislature, 1985.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 70th Legislature, 1987.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 71st Legislature, 1989.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 72nd Legislature, 1991.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 77th Legislative Session, 2001.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 73rd Legislature, 1993.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 74th Legislature, 1995.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 75th Legislature, 1997.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 76th Legislative Session, 1999.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 78th Legislative Session, 2003.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 79th Legislative Session, 2005.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 80th Legislative Session, 2007.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 81st Legislative Session, 2009.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 82nd Legislative Session, 2011.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 83rd Legislative Session, 2013.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 84th Legislature, 2015.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 85th Legislature, 2017.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 86th Legislature, 2019.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 87th Legislature, 2021.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senators, 88th Legislature, 2023.

Other Resources

• "The Correctionists," November 2010. Profile of Representative Jerry Madden and Senator John Whitmire, both named 2010 Public Officials of the Year by Governing magazine for their work in corrections reform; interviews. Governing.
• Whitmire is "the longest-serving state senator in Texas and the nation." "State Senator Calls for Inquiry Into Judge in Sex Offender Case," 1/1/2015. Houston Chronicle.
• Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.

Photographs

• Photograph. John Whitmire, 86th Legislature, Texas Senate
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 82nd Legislature, Texas Senate
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 80th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 79th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 72nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John Whitmire, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. John H. Whitmire, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 68th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
• 69th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 70th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 71st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 72nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 73rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 74th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 75th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 76th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 77th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 78th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 79th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 80th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 81st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 63rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 64th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 65th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
• 66th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
• 67th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
• 82nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 83rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 84th session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber, west wall. 2E.8). State Preservation Board.
• 85th session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber, west wall. 2E.8). State Preservation Board.
• 86th session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber, west wall. 2E.8). State Preservation Board.
• 87th session composite photo of Senate members(Senate chamber, west wall. 2E.8). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

88th R.S. - 2023 Criminal Justice (Chair)  Finance

87th R.S. - 2021 Business and Commerce   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Finance   Future of College Sports in Texas, Select   Redistricting, Special

86th R.S. - 2019 Business and Commerce   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Finance   Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety, Select   Redistricting, Select

85th R.S. - 2017 Business and Commerce   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Economic Stabilization Fund Balance, Select   Finance   Violence in Schools & School Security, Select

84th R.S. - 2015 Business and Commerce   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Economic Stabilization Fund Balance, Select   Finance   Government Facilities, Select

83rd R.S. - 2013 Administration   Business and Commerce   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Economic Stabilization Fund Balance, Select   Finance   Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters   Human Trafficking   Texas Lottery and Texas Lottery Commission

82nd R.S. - 2011 Administration   Business and Commerce   Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Finance   Finance Subcommittee on Articles VI and VII   Finance Subcommittee on Medicaid   Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety (Chair)  Government Organization   Human Trafficking

81st R.S. - 2009 Administration   Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Commitments of Individuals with Mental Retardation, Interim Select   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Criminal Justice, Oversight (Chair)  Finance   Government Organization

80th R.S. - 2007 Administration   Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Criminal Justice, Oversight   Finance   Finance Subcommittee on General Government Issues   Government Organization   Operation and Management of the Texas Youth Commission, Select (Co-Chair)

79th R.S. - 2005 Administration   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Finance   Government Organization

78th R.S. - 2003 Administration   Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Justice (Chair)  Electric Utility Restructuring, Legislative Oversight   Finance   Government Organization

77th R.S. - 2001 Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Justice (Vice Chair)  Electric Utility Restructuring, Legislative Oversight   Electronic Government, Legislative Oversight   Finance   Higher Education Excellence Funding, Interim   Intergovernmental Relations   State Employee Compensation and Benefits, Special

76th R.S. - 1999 Administration   Committee of the Whole Senate   Criminal Justice   Economic Development   Economic Development Subcommittee on Technology and Business Growth   Electric Utility Restructuring, Legislative Oversight

75th R.S. - 1997 Criminal Justice (Chair)  Criminal Justice, Interim (Chair)  Intergovernmental Relations   Legislative and Congressional Redistricting, Committee of the Whole Senate   Public Information, Interim   Sex Offenders, Interim   State Affairs   State Affairs, Interim

74th R.S. - 1995 Criminal Justice (Chair)  Emissions and Clean Air, Special (Chair)  Intergovernmental Relations   Juvenile Justice and Child Support, Interim   Legislative and Congressional Redistricting, Committee of the Whole Senate, Special   State Affairs

73rd R.S. - 1993 Committee of the Whole Senate   Comptroller Sharp's Texas Performance Review of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Interim (Co-Chair)  Criminal Justice (Chair)  Intergovernmental Relations   Nominations, Special   Redistricting, Ethics and Elections, Committee of the Whole Senate, Special   State Affairs

72nd R.S. - 1991 Administration, Special   Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special   Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special, Subcommittee on Congressional Districts   Economic Development   Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)  State Affairs

71st R.S. - 1989 Committee of the Whole Senate   Creation and Expansion of Minority and Women-Owned Business Ownership Opportunities, Special Advisory   Economic Development   Health and Human Services   Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Health Services (Vice Chair)  Intergovernmental Relations   Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee on Urban Affairs (Chair)

70th R.S. - 1987 Committee of the Whole Senate   Future of Long Term Health Care, Special Task Force   Health and Human Services   Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Health Services (Vice Chair)  Implementation of the Agricultural Hazard Communication Act   Intergovernmental Relations   Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee on Urban Affairs (Chair)  Natural Resources   Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water   Workfare, Special, Interim

69th R.S. - 1985 Committee of the Whole Senate   Department of Human Services Audits   Health and Human Resources   Health and Human Resources Subcommittee on Elder Abuse   Health and Human Resources Subcommittee on Health Services (Vice Chair)  Intergovernmental Relations   Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee on Urban Affairs (Vice Chair)  Jurisprudence   Natural Resources   Urban Issues, Special

68th R.S. - 1983 Administration   Committee of the Whole Senate   Committee of the Whole Senate, Subcommittee on Educational Quality   Fire Protection Standards   Health and Human Resources   Health and Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Health (Vice Chair)  Human Resources   Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Health (Vice Chair)  Hunger and Nutrition, Interim   Intergovernmental Relations

67th R.S. - 1981 Financial Institutions   Financial Institutions Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight   Judiciary   Ways and Means   Ways and Means Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight

66th R.S. - 1979 Criminal Jurisprudence   Judicial Affairs

65th R.S. - 1977 Intergovernmental Affairs (Vice Chair)  Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Appropriative Matters   Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Local Government   Judicial Affairs

64th R.S. - 1975 Appropriations   Business and Industry (Vice Chair - Appropriative Matters)

63rd R.S. - 1973 Appropriations   Citizens' Conference on State Legislatures, Steering, Special (Operations of the House)   Human Resources   Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Welfare   Labor   Labor Subcommittee on Occupational and Industrial Safety