When the 84th Texas Legislature convenes on Jan. 13 and oaths of office are administered, the political party split will be 21 Republicans to 10 Democrats in the 31-member Senate, and 98 Republicans to 52 Democrats in the 150-member House.
The composition and leadership of committees, the flow of legislation through those committees and control of floor debate will be according to the wishes of new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Houston and House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio. Straus is subject to reelection by his peers. He is expected to retain the rostrum and gavel for a fourth consecutive term, even if challenged by a subgroup within the Republican party.
Fort Worth attorney George P. Bush was sworn in as Texas land commissioner on Jan. 2. He succeeds Jerry Patterson at the post. Son of former Florida governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush, nephew of former president and Texas governor George W. Bush and grandson of former president George H.W. Bush, George P. Bush is 38 years old and enters an elected office for the first time.
