Terms of Service

• Senate, 89th & 88th ⁽⁵⁾ Legislatures
  1/10/2023 - 1/12/2027
  Democrat
  Dean of the Senate.
• Senate, 87th ⁽⁹⁾ Legislature
  1/12/2021 - 1/10/2023
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 86th & 85th Legislatures
  1/10/2017 - 1/12/2021
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 84th & 83rd ⁽³⁾ Legislatures
  1/8/2013 - 1/10/2017
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 82nd & 81st Legislatures
  1/13/2009 - 1/8/2013
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 80th & 79th Legislatures
  1/11/2005 - 1/13/2009
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 78th ⁽⁴⁾ Legislature
  1/14/2003 - 1/11/2005
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 77th ⁽⁸⁾ Legislature
  1/9/2001 - 1/14/2003
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 76th & 75th Legislatures
  1/14/1997 - 1/9/2001
  Democrat
  Senate President Pro Tempore, Regular Session, elected 1/14/1997.
• Senate, 74th ⁽²⁾ Legislature
  1/10/1995 - 1/14/1997
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 73rd ^{(1) (6)} Legislature
  1/12/1993 - 1/10/1995
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 72nd ⁽⁷⁾ Legislature
  1/8/1991 - 1/12/1993
  Democrat
  
• Senate, 71st & 70th Legislatures
  1/13/1987 - 1/8/1991
  Democrat
  

(1) 73rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/25/1993, pp. 589-590. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(2) 74th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1995, pp. 75-76. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal .
(3) 83rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/23/2013, SR 36, pp. 81-82. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(4) 78th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/2003, SR 7, pp. 15-16. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal .
(5) 88th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/2023, SR 9, pp. 26-27. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(6) 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.
(7) 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 .
(8) 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 .
(9) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 2022 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Resolutions and Journal entries

• Mentioned in 74th Legislature, R.S., HCR 122, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the first female legislators. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 83rd Legislature, R.S., SR 973, recognizing Senator Judith Zaffirini on the occasion of her 50,000th consecutive vote in the Senate. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 71st Legislature, R.S., SR 112. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 71st Legislature, R.S., HR 230. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 70th Legislature, R.S., HCR 122. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 70th Legislature, R.S., SR 65. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 86th Legislature, R.S., SR 685. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 73rd Legislature, R.S., SR 230. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .

Photographs

• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, Texas Senate
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, Texas Senate
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, Texas Senate
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Judith Zaffirini, Texas Senate

Other Resources

• "Lawmaker Legend Grows with Bill Passing Record as Democrats Widen Legislation Production Leads," Best of the Texas Legislature 2015, by Mike Hailey, 6/15/2015. Capitol Inside .
• Mentioned in biographical sketch of Cyndi Taylor Krier, first Republican and first female state senator from Bexar County. With Judith Zaffirini, 70th Legislature (1987) was first in Texas history with more than one woman senator. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999 2000.
• Photo and biographical sketch, pp. 233-235. First Latina elected to Texas Senate and first woman elected to the Texas Legislature from Laredo. First woman since Barbara Jordan to chair a Senate committee. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999 2000.
• Biographical sketch and photo, "Governor Abbott Announces 2018 Texas Women's Hall of Fame Honorees," 10/23/2018. Governor Greg Abbott .
• Biographical sketch, "From Government and Education to Business and Civic Leadership: The Honorable Judith Zaffirini: Leadership," Volume IV, Number 51, March 1999. First Hispanic woman Senator in Texas. Hispanic Journal .
• Photo and biographical sketch, Hispanic Journal, 2000 Legislative Guide 2000.
• Photo, mentioned in Minority Civil Rights and the Texas Legislature 2018.
• Interview with Senator Judith Zaffirini, "Texas Senator Breaks Records in Bipartisan Style," Across the Aisle podcast and transcript, 1/28/2024. National Conference of State Legislatures .
• Biographical sketch and commemoration of 15,000th vote in the Texas Senate, "15,000 and Still Counting: The Tireless Texan," by Dianna Gordon, July/August 1997, pp. 15-16. State Legislatures .
• Biographical sketch included in Tejano Struggle for Representation 2004.
• Biographical sketch, "Key Legislators Influence Dental Legislation," January 1995, p. 26. Texas Dental Journal .
• Biographical sketch, "Movers and Shakers: Meet the Legislators Who Make the Decisions About Public Education," March 1995, pp. 13-17. Texas Lone Star .
• Legislative profile, 74th Legislature, 1995. "Scenes From the 74th: The Laney-Bush Session," 6/16/1995. Texas Observer .
• "Zaffirini Casts 70,000th Consecutive Vote in Texas Senate," photo of Senator Judith Zaffirini and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, 5/10/2023. Texas Senate .
• "Senator Zaffirini Casts 60,000th Consecutive Vote," photo, 8/13/2017. Texas Senate .
• Biographical sketch, 82nd Legislature. Texas Senate .
• 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.
• Zaffirini, Judith. Texas State Cemetery .
• "Distinguished Alumna is First Female Dean of the Texas Senate," 1/8/2024. The Alcalde .
• Biographical sketch and photo. Women of the Texas Senate 2019.
• Biographical sketch and photo. Women of the Texas Senate 2017.
• Biographical sketch and photo, Women of the Texas Senate. Women's Suffrage in Texas: Struggle, the Story: Successes, Notable Firsts: Senators, Women of the Texas Senate 2019.

Committee Information

• 88th R.S. - 2023
• Business and Commerce  
• Finance  
• Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery, and Electricity, Special  
• Natural Resources and Economic Development (Vice Chair) 
• Redistricting, Special  
• State Affairs  
• 87th R.S. - 2021
• Higher Education  
• Local Government  
• Natural Resources and Economic Development (Vice Chair) 
• State Affairs  
• To Protect All Texans, Special  
• 86th R.S. - 2019
• Administration  
• Business and Commerce  
• Education  
• Higher Education  
• Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety, Select (Vice Chair) 
• Natural Resources and Economic Development (Vice Chair) 
• State Affairs  
• 85th R.S. - 2017
• Administration  
• Business and Commerce  
• Election Security, Select  
• Natural Resources and Economic Development (Vice Chair) 
• Partnership Advisory Commission  
• State Affairs  
• 84th R.S. - 2015
• Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs (Vice Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• Natural Resources and Economic Development  
• Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee  
• Partnership Advisory Commission  
• State Affairs  
• 83rd R.S. - 2013
• Administration  
• Finance  
• Government Organization (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• Higher Education  
• Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency, Select Oversight (Co-Chair) 
• Natural Resources  
• Partnership Advisory Commission  
• Redistricting, Select  
• Transportation Funding, Expenditures, and Finance, Select  
• 82nd R.S. - 2011
• Administration  
• Alzheimer's Disease  
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Economic Development  
• Finance  
• Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters  
• Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding  
• Finance Subcommittee on Medicaid  
• Government Organization (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• Higher Education (Chair) 
• Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency, Oversight (Co-Chair) 
• Partnership Advisory Commission  
• Redistricting, Select  
• 81st R.S. - 2009
• Administration  
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Economic Development  
• Finance  
• Health and Human Services  
• Health and Human Services Eligibility System, Oversight  
• Higher Education (Chair) 
• Redistricting, Select  
• 80th R.S. - 2007
• Administration  
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Education  
• Education Subcommittee on Higher Education (Chair) 
• Finance (Vice Chair) 
• Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• Health and Human Services Eligibility System, Oversight  
• 79th R.S. - 2005
• Education  
• Education Subcommittee on Higher Education  
• Finance (Vice Chair) 
• Finance Subcommittee on Capital Funding for Higher Education (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• International Relations and Trade  
• 78th R.S. - 2003
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Education  
• Finance (Vice Chair) 
• Health and Human Services  
• Health and Human Services Transition, Legislative Oversight  
• Higher Education, Interim  
• Higher Education, Legislative Oversight  
• International Relations and Trade  
• 77th R.S. - 2001
• Administration  
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Education (Vice Chair) 
• Finance  
• Health Services, Interim (Co-Chair) 
• Prompt Payment of Health Care Providers, Special  
• Redistricting, Special  
• 76th R.S. - 1999
• Border Affairs, Special  
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Education  
• Education Subcommittee on Higher Education  
• Human Services (Chair) 
• Long-Term Care, Legislative Oversight  
• 75th R.S. - 1997
• Education  
• Education, Interim  
• Finance  
• Funding Issues in Education, Interim  
• Health and Human Services (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services, Interim (Chair) 
• Legislative and Congressional Redistricting, Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Long-Term Care, Legislative Oversight (Chair) 
• Texas Integrated Enrollment Services, Legislative Oversight  
• 74th R.S. - 1995
• Education  
• Finance  
• Finance Subcommittee II (Chair) 
• General Investigating, Special  
• Health and Human Services (Chair) 
• Legislative and Congressional Redistricting, Committee of the Whole Senate, Special  
• 73rd R.S. - 1993
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Domestic Violence, Interim  
• Education  
• Finance  
• Health and Human Services (Chair) 
• Home Equity Lending, Interim  
• Redistricting, Ethics and Elections, Committee of the Whole Senate, Special  
• 72nd R.S. - 1991
• Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special  
• Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special, Subcommittee on Legislative Districts  
• Education  
• Finance  
• Health and Human Services  
• Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Health Services (Chair) 
• Health and Human Services, Interim  
• Natural Resources  
• Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water  
• 71st R.S. - 1989
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Education  
• Edwards Aquifer, Special  
• Health and Human Services  
• Legislative Redistricting, Select  
• Natural Resources  
• Natural Resources Subcommittee on Agriculture  
• Public Education, Select  
• State and Local Drug Control, Task Force on  
• 70th R.S. - 1987
• Committee of the Whole Senate  
• Health and Human Services  
• Higher Education in South Texas  
• Inhalant Abuse, Special  
• Intergovernmental Relations  
• Juvenile Justice System, Select  
• Natural Resources  
• Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water  
• Steering Committee to Develop a Texas Office of Prevention  
• Substance Abuse Treatment Delivery  
• Workfare, Special, Interim