title: Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature
text: # Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature
  
  The Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature met from January 14 to June 2, 2003 in regular session, and in three called sessions in 2003, and a fourth called session in 2004. All members of the House of Representatives and all members of the Senate (15 to two-year terms, 16 to four-year terms) were elected in the 2002 General Election.
  
  ## Sessions
  
  * 78th Regular session: January 14, 2003 – June 2, 2003
  * 78th First called session: June 30, 2003 – July 28, 2003
  
      To consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.
  * 78th Second called session: July 28, 2003 – August 26, 2003
  
      To consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.
  * 78th Third called session: September 15, 2003 – October 12, 2003
  
      To consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.
      To consider legislation relating to state fiscal management, including adjustments to certain school district fiscal matters made necessary by recent changes in state fiscal management; making related appropriations.
      To consider legislation relating to the dates of certain elections, the procedures for canvassing the ballots for an election, and the counting of certain ballots voted by mail.
      To consider legislation modifying the filing period and related election dates for the primary elections in Texas.
      To consider legislation relating to the financing, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of toll facilities by the Texas Department of Transportation and the disposition of money generated by the driver responsibility program, fines imposed for certain traffic offenses, and certain fees collected by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas; making an appropriation.
      To consider legislation relating to the reorganization of, efficiency in, and other reform measures applying to state government.
      To consider legislation appropriating fees established by legislation from the 78th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature that remain unappropriated. This matter shall be strictly construed to only include fees that were established during that session of the legislature.
      Legislation relating to making an appropriation for the purpose of returning to a fund outside of the state treasury cash that was transferred from the fund to the general revenue fund.
  * 78th Fourth called session: April 20, 2004 – May 17, 2004
  
      To consider legislation that provides for performance based incentives to schools that attain higher levels of achievement.
      To consider legislation that provides a cap on the growth in the appraisal values of homesteads for property tax purposes.
      To consider legislation that provides a cap that is indexed to population and inflation on all property tax revenues received by local governments.
      To consider legislation that provides reform of the property tax appraisal process, including having elected officials approve certification rolls, and requiring mandatory sales price disclosure of real property.
      To consider legislation that provides for modifications to the recapture provisions of the school finance system, including but not limited to a constitutional amendment that links residential and non-residential tax rates at a lower level than provided by current law, providing for local enrichment.
      To consider legislation that creates an Educational Excellence Fund to provide incentive funding, funding to maintain and enhance equity, and greater funding to address the needs of students with limited English proficiency.
      To consider legislation on education reforms and property tax reduction proposals that benefit the school children and property tax payers of Texas.
      To consider legislation that provides for an increase in cigarette and tobacco product taxes and fees and dedicating the revenue derived from the increase to the Educational Excellence Fund and for school property tax relief for taxpayers.
      To consider legislation and amendments to the constitution that authorize and allow the placement and licensing of video lottery terminals at licensed racetracks and certain Indian reservations, providing that the revenue derived from such activity is dedicated to the Educational Excellence Fund, providing that the racetracks and tribes sign a contract with the state.
      To consider legislation that privatizes the collection of delinquent taxes.
      To consider legislation that provides for a reasonable tax and fees on certain adult entertainment venues.
      To consider legislation that provides for an acceleration in the collection of tax revenues.
      To consider legislation that reduces fraud in the sale of automobiles.
      To consider legislation that closes loopholes in the franchise tax and dedicates the revenue from closing the loopholes to the Educational Excellence Fund and for school property tax relief for taxpayers.
  
  ## Party summary
  
  ### Senate
  
  | Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
  | - | - | - |
  | | Republican Party | 19 |
  | | Democratic Party | 12 |
  | Total | Total | 31 |
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
  | - | - | - |
  | | Republican Party | 88 |
  | | Democratic Party | 62 |
  | Total | Total | 150 |
  
  ## Officers
  
  ### Senate
  
  * Lieutenant Governor: David Dewhurst, Republican
  * President Pro Tempore (regular session): Eddie Lucio, Jr., Democrat
  * President Pro Tempore (1st–3rd called sessions): Jane Nelson, Republican
  * President Pro Tempore (4th called session): Jeff Wentworth, Republican
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  * Speaker of the House: Tom Craddick, Republican
  
  ## Members
  
  Members of the Seventy-eighth Texas Legislature at the beginning of the regular session, January 14, 2003:
  
  ### Senate
  
  | District | Senator | Party | Took office |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Bill Ratliff | Republican | 1989 |
  | 2 | Bob Deuell | Republican | 2003 |
  | 3 | Todd Staples | Republican | 2000 |
  | 4 | Tommy Williams | Republican | 2003 |
  | 5 | Steve Ogden | Republican | 1997 |
  | 6 | Mario Gallegos, Jr. | Democrat | 1995 |
  | 7 | Jon Lindsay | Republican | 1997 |
  | 8 | Florence Shapiro | Republican | 1993 |
  | 9 | Chris Harris | Republican | 1991 |
  | 10 | Kim Brimer | Republican | 2003 |
  | 11 | Mike Jackson | Republican | 1999 |
  | 12 | Jane Nelson | Republican | 1993 |
  | 13 | Rodney Ellis | Democrat | 1990 |
  | 14 | Gonzalo Barrientos | Democrat | 1985 |
  | 15 | John Whitmire | Democrat | 1983 |
  | 16 | John J. Carona | Republican | June 1996 |
  | 17 | Kyle Janek | Republican | November 2002 |
  | 18 | Kenneth L. Armbrister | Democrat | 1987 |
  | 19 | Frank L. Madla | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 20 | Chuy Hinojosa | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 21 | Judith Zaffirini | Democrat | 1987 |
  | 22 | Kip Averitt | Republican | April 2002 |
  | 23 | Royce West | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 24 | Troy Fraser | Republican | 1997 |
  | 25 | Jeff Wentworth | Republican | 1993 |
  | 26 | Leticia R. Van de Putte | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 27 | Eddie Lucio, Jr. | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 28 | Robert L. Duncan | Republican | December 1996 |
  | 29 | Eliot Shapleigh | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 30 | Craig Estes | Republican | December 2001 |
  | 31 | Teel Bivins | Republican | 1989 |
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | District | Representative | Party | Took office |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Barry B. Telford | Democrat | 1986 |
  | 2 | Dan Flynn | Republican | 2003 |
  | 3 | Mark Homer | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 4 | Betty Brown | Republican | 1999 |
  | 5 | Bryan Hughes | Republican | 2003 |
  | 6 | Leo Berman | Republican | 1999 |
  | 7 | Tommy Merritt | Republican | 1997 |
  | 8 | Byron Cook | Republican | 2003 |
  | 9 | Wayne Christian | Republican | 1996 |
  | 10 | Jim Pitts | Republican | 1993 |
  | 11 | Chuck Hopson | Democrat | 2001 |
  | 12 | Jim McReynolds | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 13 | Lois Kolkhorst | Republican | 2001 |
  | 14 | Fred Brown | Republican | 1999 |
  | 15 | Rob Eissler | Republican | 2003 |
  | 16 | Ruben Hope, Jr. | Republican | 1999 |
  | 17 | Robby Cook | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 18 | Dan Ellis | Democrat | 1998 |
  | 19 | Tuffy Hamilton | Republican | 2003 |
  | 20 | Dan Gattis | Republican | 2003 |
  | 21 | Allan Ritter | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 22 | Joe Deshotel | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 23 | Craig Eiland | Democrat | 1995 |
  | 24 | Larry Taylor | Republican | 2003 |
  | 25 | Dennis Bonnen | Republican | 1997 |
  | 26 | Charles F. "Charlie" Howard | Republican | 1995 |
  | 27 | Dora Olivo | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 28 | Glenn Hegar | Republican | 2003 |
  | 29 | Glenda Dawson | Republican | 2003 |
  | 30 | Geanie Morrison | Republican | 1999 |
  | 31 | Ryan Guillen | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 32 | Gene Seaman | Republican | 1997 |
  | 33 | Vilma Luna | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 34 | Jaime Capelo | Democrat | 1998 |
  | 35 | Gabi Canales | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 36 | Kino Flores | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 37 | Rene O. Oliveira | Democrat | 1991 (first time: 1981–1987) |
  | 38 | Jim Solis | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 39 | Miguel Wise | Democrat | 1996 |
  | 40 | Aaron Pena | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 41 | Roberto Gutierrez | Democrat | 1992 |
  | 42 | Richard Raymond | Democrat | 2001 (first time: 1993–1999) |
  | 43 | Irma Rangel | Democrat | 1976 |
  | 44 | Edmund Kuempel | Republican | 1983 |
  | 45 | Patrick Rose | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 46 | Dawnna Dukes | Democrat | 1995 |
  | 47 | Terry Keel | Republican | 1997 |
  | 48 | Todd Baxter | Republican | 2003 |
  | 49 | Elliott Naishtat | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 50 | Jack Stick | Republican | 2003 |
  | 51 | Eddie Rodriguez | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 52 | Mike Krusee | Republican | 1993 |
  | 53 | Harvey Hilderbran | Republican | 1989 |
  | 54 | Suzanna Gratia Hupp | Republican | 1996 |
  | 55 | Dianne Delisi | Republican | 1991 |
  | 56 | John Mabry | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 57 | Jim Dunnam | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 58 | Arlene Wohlgemuth | Republican | 1994 |
  | 59 | Sid Miller | Republican | 2001 |
  | 60 | Jim Keffer | Republican | 1997 |
  | 61 | Phil King | Republican | 1999 |
  | 62 | Larry Phillips | Republican | 2003 |
  | 63 | Mary Denny | Republican | 1993 |
  | 64 | Myra Crownover | Republican | 2000 |
  | 65 | Burt Solomons | Republican | 1995 |
  | 66 | Brian McCall | Republican | 1991 |
  | 67 | Jerry Madden | Republican | 1993 |
  | 68 | Rick Hardcastle | Republican | 1999 |
  | 69 | David Farabee | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 70 | Ken Paxton | Republican | 2003 |
  | 71 | Robert Dean Hunter | Republican | 1986 |
  | 72 | Scott Campbell | Republican | 2003 |
  | 73 | Carter Casteel | Republican | 2003 |
  | 74 | Pete P. Gallego | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 75 | Chente Quintanilla | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 76 | Norma Chavez | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 77 | Paul C. Moreno | Democrat | 1975 (first time: 1967–1973) |
  | 78 | Pat Haggerty | Republican | 1989 |
  | 79 | Joe C. Pickett | Democrat | 1995 |
  | 80 | Timo Garza | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 81 | Buddy West | Republican | 1993 |
  | 82 | Tom Craddick | Republican | 1969 |
  | 83 | Delwin Jones | Republican | 1989 (first time: 1965–1981) |
  | 84 | Carl H. Isett | Republican | 1997 |
  | 85 | Pete Laney | Democrat | 1973 |
  | 86 | John Smithee | Republican | 1985 |
  | 87 | David Swinford | Republican | 1991 |
  | 88 | Warren Chisum | Republican | 1989 |
  | 89 | Jodie Anne Laubenberg | Republican | 2003 |
  | 90 | Lon Burnam | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 91 | Bob E. Griggs | Republican | 2003 |
  | 92 | Todd Smith | Republican | 1997 |
  | 93 | Toby Goodman | Republican | 1991 |
  | 94 | Kent Grusendorf | Republican | 1987 |
  | 95 | Glenn Lewis | Democrat | 1994 |
  | 96 | Bill Zedler | Republican | 2003 |
  | 97 | Anna Mowery | Republican | 1988 |
  | 98 | Vicki Truitt | Republican | 1999 |
  | 99 | Charlie Geren | Republican | 2001 |
  | 100 | Terri Hodge | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 101 | Elvira Reyna | Republican | 1993 |
  | 102 | Tony Goolsby | Republican | 1989 |
  | 103 | Steven D. Wolens | Democrat | 1996 |
  | 104 | Roberto R. Alonzo | Democrat | 2003 (first time: 1993–1997) |
  | 105 | Linda Harper-Brown | Republican | 2003 |
  | 106 | Ray Allen | Republican | 1993 |
  | 107 | Bill Keffer | Republican | 2002 |
  | 108 | Dan Branch | Republican | 2003 |
  | 109 | Helen Giddings | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 110 | Jesse W. Jones | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 111 | Yvonne Davis | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 112 | Fred Hill | Republican | 1989 |
  | 113 | Joe Driver | Republican | 1993 |
  | 114 | Will Ford Hartnett | Republican | 1991 |
  | 115 | Kenny Marchant | Republican | 1986 |
  | 116 | Trey Martinez Fischer | Democrat | 2001 |
  | 117 | Ken Mercer | Republican | 2003 |
  | 118 | Carlos Uresti | Democrat | 1997 |
  | 119 | Robert R. Puente | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 120 | Ruth McClendon | Democrat | 1996 |
  | 121 | Elizabeth Ames Jones | Republican | 2000 |
  | 122 | Frank Corte, Jr. | Republican | 1993 |
  | 123 | Mike Villarreal | Democrat | 2000 |
  | 124 | Jose Menendez | Democrat | 2001 |
  | 125 | Joaquin Castro | Democrat | 2003 |
  | 126 | Peggy Hamric | Republican | 1991 |
  | 127 | Joe Crabb | Republican | 1993 |
  | 128 | Wayne Smith | Republican | 2003 |
  | 129 | John E. Davis | Republican | 1999 |
  | 130 | Corbin Van Arsdale | Republican | 2003 |
  | 131 | Ron Wilson | Democrat | 1976 |
  | 132 | Bill Callegari | Republican | 2001 |
  | 133 | Joe Nixon | Republican | 1995 |
  | 134 | Martha Wong | Republican | 2003 |
  | 135 | Gary Elkins | Republican | 1995 |
  | 136 | Beverly Woolley | Republican | 1995 |
  | 137 | Scott Hochberg | Democrat | 1993 |
  | 138 | Dwayne Bohac | Republican | 2003 |
  | 139 | Sylvester Turner | Democrat | 1989 |
  | 140 | Kevin Bailey | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 141 | Senfronia Thompson | Democrat | 1973 |
  | 142 | Harold V. Dutton, Jr. | Democrat | 1985 |
  | 143 | Joe E. Moreno | Democrat | 1998 |
  | 144 | Robert Talton | Republican | 1993 |
  | 145 | Rick Noriega | Democrat | 1999 |
  | 146 | Al Edwards | Democrat | 1979 |
  | 147 | Garnet Coleman | Democrat | 1991 |
  | 148 | Jessica Farrar | Democrat | 1995 |
  | 149 | Talmadge L. Heflin | Republican | 1992 |
  | 150 | Debbie Riddle | Republican | 2002 |
  
  ^ : In the 2002 General Election, Ron Clark won the District 62 seat but declined it, having received an appointment as a United States federal judge. Phillips was elected prior to the start of the regular session.
  
  ## Membership Changes
  
  ### Senate
  
  | District | Outgoing Senator | Reason for Vacancy | Successor | Date of Successor's Installation |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | District 1 | Bill Ratliff | Retirement. Senator Ratliff resigned effective January 10, 2004 for personal reasons. | Kevin Eltife | March 5, 2004 |
  | District 31 | Teel Bivins | Resignation. Senator Bivins resigned effective January 12, 2004 after being appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sweden by President George W. Bush. | Kel Seliger | March 2, 2003 |
  
  * ^ District 1: A special election was held on January 20, 2004. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff on February 17, 2004. Kevin Eltife received a majority of the vote and was sworn in on March 5, 2004.
  * ^ District 31: A special election was held on January 20, 2004. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff on February 17, 2004. Kel Seliger received a majority of the vote and was sworn in on March 2, 2004.
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | District | Outgoing Representative | Reason for Vacancy | Successor | Date of Successor's Installation |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | District 43 | Irma Rangel | Representative Rangel died on March 18, 2003. | Juan Manuel Escobar | May 9, 2003 |
  | District 62 | Ron Clark | Representative Clark declined his seat after accepting appointment as United States federal judge. | Larry Phillips | January 14, 2003 |
  
  * ^ District 43: A special election was held on April 15, 2003. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff on May 6, 2003. Juan Manuel Escobar won the runoff and was sworn in 3 days later, on May 9, 2003.
  * ^ District 62: Representative Clark was elected in the 2002 General Election, but resigned before re-taking the oath of office for the Seventy-eighth Legislature. A special election was held on December 14, 2002. No candidate received a majority of the votes on that date, so the top two candidates faced each other in a runoff on January 7, 2002. Larry Phillips won the runoff and was sworn in at the opening of the regular session.
  