This post includes a list of guides published by Texas legislative agencies to assist you in following the legislative process. These guides will help you track and read a bill, understand the terminology used in the Texas Legislature, learn about issues facing the Legislature, and much more.
Texas Legislative Information and Resources, prepared by the Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council for the 85th Legislature (2017).
Identifies resources for locating information that is available about current and past legislation.
Research Spotlight: Legislative Lexicon, prepared by the Texas Senate Research Center (2017).
Provides definitions of words, terms, and phrases used in the Legislature.
Reading Statutes and Bills, prepared by the Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council (2017).
Presents a basic overview of Texas statutes and bills, as well as tips for reading and understanding them.
Topics for the 85th Legislature, by House Research Organization (2016).
Highlights many of the issues the 85th Legislature may consider during its 2017 regular session.
Texas Legislative Glossary, prepared by the Texas Legislative Council for the 85th Legislature.
Defines terms related to the legislative process in Texas.
Issues Facing the 85th Texas Legislature, prepared by the Texas Senate Research Center (2017).
Outlines broad categories and topics of interest for the 85th Legislature.
- Transportation Network Company (TNC) Legislation, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, ©2016
- "Driving Safety: An Empirical Analysis of Ridesharing's Impact on Drunk Driving and Alcohol-Related Crime," Frank Martin Buck, November 17, 2016
- "Houston changes rules, keeps Uber through Super Bowl," The Houston Chronicle, December 14, 2016
- "Texas Lawmakers Learn Details of Ride-Hailing Laws in Several Other States," Texas Tribune, August 30, 2016
- "Lawmakers Put Pedal to Metal to Deal with Ride-Sharing," National Conference of State Legislatures, February 19, 2016
Summary of the 85th Legislature
Party | House | Senate | Overall |
---|---|---|---|
Democrat | 55 | 11 | 66 |
Republican | 95 | 20 | 115 |
Total | 150 | 31 | 181 |
Gender | House | Senate | Overall |
---|---|---|---|
Women | 29 | 8 | 37 |
Men | 121 | 23 | 144 |
Total | 150 | 31 | 181 |
Members not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature
Not Returning | Replacement | ||
---|---|---|---|
Sen. Rodney Ellis (D) | Borris Miles (D) | ||
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R) | Bryan Hughes (R) | ||
Sen. Troy Fraser (R) | Dawn Buckingham (R) | ||
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R) | Scott Cosper (R) | ||
Rep. Myra Crownover (R) | Lynn Stucky (R) | ||
Rep. Marsha Farney (R) | Terry Wilson (R) | ||
Rep. Allen Fletcher (R) | Tom Oliverson (R) | ||
Rep. Rick Galindo (R) | Philip Cortez (D) | ||
Rep. Patricia Harless (R) | Kevin Roberts (R) | ||
Rep. Bryan Hughes (R) | Cole Hefner (R) | ||
Rep. Jim Keffer (R) | Mike Lang (R) | ||
Rep. Susan King (R) | Stan Lambert (R) | ||
Rep. John Lujan (R) | Tomas Uresti (D) | ||
Rep. Marisa Márquez (D) | Evelina Ortega (D) | ||
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D) | Diana Arevalo (D) | ||
Rep. Borris Miles (D) | Shawn Thierry (D) | ||
Rep. Doug Miller (R) | Kyle Biedermann (R) | ||
Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D) | Gina Hinojosa (D) | ||
Rep. John Otto (R) | Ernest Bailes (R) | ||
Rep. Gilbert Peña (R) | Mary Ann Perez (D) | ||
Rep. Debbie Riddle (R) | Valoree Swanson (R) | ||
Rep. Kenneth Sheets (R) | Victoria Neave (D) | ||
Rep. David Simpson (R) | Jay Dean (R) | ||
Rep. Wayne Smith (R) | Briscoe Cain (R) | ||
Rep. Stuart Spitzer (R) | Lance Gooden (R) | ||
Rep. Laura Thompson (I) | Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D) | ||
Rep. Scott Turner (R) | Justin Holland (R) | ||
Rep. Sylvester Turner (D) | Jarvis Johnson (D) | ||
Rep. Molly White (R) | Hugh Shine (R) |
Below is a list of members (as of January 27, 2016) not returning to the 85th Texas Legislature.
- A complete list of candidates in the Texas House 2016 Primary can be seen here.
- A list of candidates in the Texas Senate 2016 Primary can be seen here.
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock | Retiring | |
Rep. Myra Crownover | Retiring | |
Sen. Kevin Eltife | Retiring | |
Rep. Joe Farias | Resigned effective 8/10/15 | |
Rep. Allen Fletcher | Retiring | |
Sen. Troy Fraser | Retiring | |
Rep. Patricia Harless | Retiring | |
Rep. Bryan Hughes | Seeking another office | |
Rep. Jim Keffer | Retiring | |
Rep. Susan King | Seeking another office | |
Rep. Marisa Márquez | Retiring | |
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer | Seeking another office | |
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon | Resigned effective 1/31/16 | |
Rep. Elliott Naishtat | Retiring | |
Rep. John Otto | Retiring | |
Rep. David Simpson | Seeking another office | |
Rep. Scott Turner | Retiring | |
Rep. Sylvester Turner | Resigned effective 1/1/16; sworn in as Mayor of Houston on 1/2/16 |