After the primaries and primary runoff elections, some things can already be determined about the 84th Session. Between retirements, members running for other offices or losing primary races, at least 31 new faces in their respective chamber, will be part of the legislature when it convenes on January 13. Several special elections may also be necessary depending on the results of other elections or decisions to run for other offices. The breakdown:
Senate
Of 31 senators, 2 were voted out in primaries and 6 retired or ran for another office. Sen. Wendy Davis, who gave up her seat to run for governor, is the sole Democrat not returning so far. The other 7 are Republicans.
Below is a list of members that are not returning and the committees they sat on:
| Senate Committee | Member(s) Not Returning |
| Administration (7) | Sen. John Carona; Sen. Tommy Williams |
| Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security (5) | Sen. Glenn Hegar |
| Business and Commerce (9) | Sen. John Carona (Chair) |
| Criminal Justice (7) | Sen. John Carona; Sen. Dan Patrick |
| Economic Development (7) | Sen. Bob Deuell (Chair); Sen. Wendy Davis |
| Education (9) | Sen. Dan Patrick (Chair); Sen. Robert Duncan; Sen. Ken Paxton |
| Finance (14) | Sen. Tommy Williams (Chair); Sen. Bob Deuell; Sen. Robert Duncan; Sen. Glenn Hegar; Sen. Dan Patrick |
| Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters (5) | Sen. Glenn Hegar (Chair) |
| Government Organization (7) | Sen. Ken Paxton |
| Health and Human Services (9) | Sen. Bob Deuell (Vice-Chair) |
| Higher Education (7) | Sen. Robert Duncan; Sen. Dan Patrick |
| Intergovernmental Relations (5) | Sen. Ken Paxton |
| Jurisprudence (7) | Sen. John Carona; Sen. Ken Paxton |
| Natural Resources (11) | Sen. Bob Deuell; Sen. Robert Duncan; Sen. Glenn Hegar |
| Nominations (7) | Sen. Glenn Hegar (Chair); Sen. John Carona |
| Open Government (5) | Sen. Wendy Davis (Vice-Chair); Sen. Tommy Williams |
| Redistricting, Select (14) | Sen. John Carona; Sen. Robert Duncan; Sen. Dan Patrick |
| State Affairs (9) | Sen. Robert Duncan (Chair); Sen. Bob Deuell (Vice-Chair); Sen. Tommy Williams |
| SWIFT Advisory (7) | Sen. Robert Duncan |
| Transportation (9) | Sen. Ken Paxton (Vice-Chair); Sen. Dan Patrick; Sen. Wendy Davis |
| Veteran Affairs and Military Installations (5) | Sen. Wendy Davis |
| Water Desalination, Joint (12) | Sen. Glenn Hegar |
House of Representatives
Of the 150 state representatives, 15 members retired or ran for another office and 9 were voted out in the primary election with one member losing their primary in a runoff.
Below is a list of members that are not returning and the committees they sat on:
| House Committee | Member(s) Not Returning |
| Appropriations (27) | Rep. Jim Pitts (Chair); Rep Diane Patrick; Rep. Stefani Carter; Rep. Bennett Ratliff; Rep. Rob Orr; Rep. Charles Perry |
| Business and Industry (7) | Rep. Rob Orr |
| Calendars (15) | Rep. Dan Branch; Rep. Craig Eiland |
| Corrections (7) | Rep. Steve Toth |
| Criminal Jurisprudence (9) | Rep. Stefani Carter (Vice-Chair); Rep. Steve Toth; Rep. Lon Burnam |
| Defense and Veterans’ Affairs (9) | Rep. Ralph Sheffield (Vice-Chair); |
| Economic and Small Business Development (9) | Rep. John Davis (Chair) |
| Energy Resources (11) | Rep. Ralf Sheffield; Rep. Lon Burnam |
| Environmental Regulation (9) | Rep. Tryon Lewis |
| General Investigating and Ethics (5) | Rep. Naomi Gonzalez (Vice-Chair); |
| Government Efficiency and Reform (7) | Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (Chair); Rep. Charles Perry (Vice-Chair); Rep. Van Taylor |
| Higher Education (9) | Rep. Dan Branch (Chair); Rep. Diane Patrick (Vice-Chair) |
| Homeland Security and Public Safety (9) | Rep. George Lavender |
| House Administration (11) | Rep. Lance Gooden |
| Human Services (9) | Rep. Naomi Gonzalez (Vice-Chair) |
| Insurance (9) | Rep. Craig Eiland (Vice-Chair); Rep. Brandon Creighton; Rep. Van Taylor |
| International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs (7) | Rep. Brandon Creighton; Rep. Mark Strama |
| Investments and Financial Services (7) | Rep. Mike Villarreal (Chair) |
| Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence (9) | Rep. Tryon Lewis (Chair); Rep. Lance Gooden |
| Licensing and Administrative Procedures (9) | Rep. Lance Gooden |
| Natural Resources (11) | Rep. Allan Ritter (Chair); Rep. Bill Callegari |
| Pensions (7) | Rep. Bill Callegari (Chair); Rep. Dan Branch |
| Public Education (11) | Rep. Bennett Ratliff; Rep. John Davis Rep. Mike Villarreal |
| Redistricting (9) | Rep. Brandon Creighton |
| Rules and Resolutions (11) | Rep. Diane Patrick |
| State Affairs (13) | Rep. Harvey Hilderbran |
| SWIFT Advisory (7) | Rep. Allan Ritter (Co-Chair) |
| Transportation (11) | Rep. Linda Harper-Brown; Rep. George Lavender |
| Ways and Means (9) | Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (Chair); Rep. Craig Eiland; Rep. Naomi Gonzalez; Rep. Allen Ritter; Rep. Mark Strama |
Aug. 5 Special Election Runoff
SD 4 – The only currently ongoing special election is the seat vacated by Sen. Tommy Williams-R who left to take a position with the Texas A&M University System. Rep. Brandon Creighton-R and Rep. Steve Toth-R are the two candidates left in the special election runoff which is scheduled for August 5. Both Creighton and Toth left their seats open to be filled in the regular election cycle this year.
Other Potential Situations
SD 26 – Sen. Leticia Van de Putte-D and Sen. Dan Patrick-R are opponents in the race for lieutenant governor; because of staggered terms, Patrick resigned his seat to run while Van de Putte was not required to retire. If Van de Putte wins in the race for lieutenant governor, a special election will be called to fill her vacant seat.
SD 18 – Sen. Glenn Hegar-R, who is running against Mike Collier-D for Comptroller, did not have to resign his seat to run. If Hegar wins his race, a special election will be necessary for his Senate seat.
SD 28 – Sen. Robert Duncan-R was recently selected as the new chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Duncan resigned his seat and a special election has been called for September 9 to fill the seat.
HD 83 – Rep. Charles Perry-R has decided to run for Duncan’s open seat. Perry has dropped out of his reelection bid requiring Republican and Democratic Party chairmen for the counties in District 83 to choose candidates to fill HD 83 ballot positions.
HD 123 – San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has been confirmed to his appointment as federal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Rep. Mike Villarreal-D has decided to run for Mayor. Villarreal could drop out of his reelection campaign to focus on his mayoral run. In this case, Bexar County party chairmen would choose candidates to fill the ballot positions for HD 123. If Villarreal decided to wait until after the November general election to resign, a special election will be called to fill his seat.
