James E. "Pete" Laney

Full Name: James E. "Pete" Laney

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	85	Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 9, 2007	79th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Borden, Crosby, Fisher, Floyd, Garza, Glasscock, Hale, Howard, Irion, Jones, Kent, Lynn, Reagan, Sterling, Stonewall, Terry
H	85	Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 11, 2005	78th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Borden, Crosby, Fisher, Floyd, Garza, Glasscock, Hale, Howard, Irion, Jones, Kent, Lynn, Reagan, Sterling, Stonewall, Terry
H	85	Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003	77th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker	Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hamilton, Lamb, Motley, Orange, Parmer, Potter, Swisher
H	85	Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001	76th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker	Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hamilton, Lamb, Motley, Orange, Parmer, Potter, Swisher
H	85	Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999	75th ⁽¹⁾	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker	Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997	74th ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker	Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995	73rd	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker	Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993	72nd	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991	71st	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989	70th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987	69th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher
H	85	Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985	68th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher
H	76	Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983	67th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale	Speaker Pro Tem, 3/12/1982.	Hale, Lubbock, Swisher
H	76	Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981	66th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Hale, Lubbock, Swisher
H	76	Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979	65th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Hale, Lubbock, Swisher
H	76	Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977	64th	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Hale, Lubbock, Swisher
H	76	Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975	63rd	Democrat	Hale Center / Hale		Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

(1) Sworn 1/14/1997. Oaths of Office.
(2) Oath of office, statement of elected officer. Sworn 1/10/1995. Oaths of Office.

Terms of Service top

House District 85
Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 9, 2007
Legislatures: 79th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Borden, Crosby, Fisher, Floyd, Garza, Glasscock, Hale, Howard, Irion, Jones, Kent, Lynn, Reagan, Sterling, Stonewall, Terry

House District 85
Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 11, 2005
Legislatures: 78th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Borden, Crosby, Fisher, Floyd, Garza, Glasscock, Hale, Howard, Irion, Jones, Kent, Lynn, Reagan, Sterling, Stonewall, Terry

House District 85
Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003
Legislatures: 77th
Speaker
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hamilton, Lamb, Motley, Orange, Parmer, Potter, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001
Legislatures: 76th
Speaker
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hamilton, Lamb, Motley, Orange, Parmer, Potter, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999
Legislatures: 75th ⁽¹⁾
Speaker
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997
Legislatures: 74th ⁽²⁾
Speaker
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995
Legislatures: 73rd
Speaker
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Motley, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993
Legislatures: 72nd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991
Legislatures: 71st
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989
Legislatures: 70th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987
Legislatures: 69th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher

House District 85
Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985
Legislatures: 68th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Bailey, Castro, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, Swisher

House District 76
Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983
Legislatures: 67th
Speaker Pro Tem, 3/12/1982.
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

House District 76
Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981
Legislatures: 66th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

House District 76
Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979
Legislatures: 65th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

House District 76
Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977
Legislatures: 64th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

House District 76
Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975
Legislatures: 63rd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Hale Center / Hale
Counties in district: Hale, Lubbock, Swisher

(1) Sworn 1/14/1997. Oaths of Office.
(2) Oath of office, statement of elected officer. Sworn 1/10/1995. Oaths of Office.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

67th Legislature, 2nd C.S., HR 68. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
67th Legislature, R.S., HR 139. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
68th Legislature, R.S., HR 160. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
73rd Legislature, R.S., HR 432. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
74th Legislature, R.S., SR 908, commending Nelda Laney. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
85th Legislature, R.S., HR 190, in memory of Nelda McQuien Laney. Resolutions - Memorial.

Biographical Sketches

72nd Speaker of the House of Representatives: James E. "Pete" Laney. Photo and biographical sketch Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2016, 2016.
Oral history interview with Pete Laney, 2025. Texas House of Representatives.
Legislative profile, 74th Legislature, 1995. "Scenes From the 74th: The Laney-Bush Session," 6/16/1995. Texas Observer.

Other Resources

Honorable Mention, "Legislative Stars Shine Through Difficult Session," Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 1995, pp. 8-9, 29 The Classroom Teacher: The Magazine of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
"Pete Laney: Opening the Doors," p. 21, July 1993. Governing.
Memorial service program in memory of Nelda McQuien Laney. Liturgical Program, Funeral Service for Nelda McQuien Laney, 2016.
Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.
Bust of Speaker James E. "Pete" Laney in Capitol Extension, E1 Seal Court. State Preservation Board.
"Pete Laney. . . on being a Democrat (but not Speaker)," 3/21/2006. Texas Monthly.
James E. "Pete" Laney. Texas State Cemetery.
Interview, "House Speaker Laney Offers Insights into Legislative Effectiveness," Summer 1998, pp. 5-6. The TEXPERS Pension Observer.

Photographs

Photograph. Pete Laney, 79th Legislature, Members of the 79th Legislature Texas House of Representatives (CD-RW)
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. "Pete" Laney, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. James E. (Pete) Laney, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 74th Legislature, 1995.
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 79th Legislature, 2005.

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

63rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
64th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
65th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
66th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
67th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
68th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
69th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
70th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
71st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
72nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
73rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
74th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
75th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
76th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
77th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
78th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
79th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

79th R.S. - 2005 County Affairs Natural Resources
78th R.S. - 2003 Agriculture and Livestock Transportation
72nd R.S. - 1991 Environment, Interim Rules, Select State Affairs (Chair)
71st R.S. - 1989 Election Contest District 129, Special State Affairs (Chair)
70th R.S. - 1987 Air Transport Systems, Select Government Organization State Affairs (Chair)
69th R.S. - 1985 Advisory Committee to Study Viable Alternatives to the House Study Group Cogeneration, Special (Co-Chair) Elections House Administration State Affairs (Chair)
68th R.S. - 1983 House Administration House Administration Subcommittee on Publications Nursing Home Reform, House Joint, Interim (Chair) State Affairs (Chair) State Properties, Special
67th R.S. - 1981 Agriculture and Livestock Criminal Justice System, Special, Interim House Administration (Chair) Natural Resources (Chair - Budget & Oversight) Natural Resources Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight (Chair) Rural Water Cooperatives, House Joint
66th R.S. - 1979 Criminal Jurisprudence Government Organization House Administration (Chair)
65th R.S. - 1977 Criminal Jurisprudence Criminal Jurisprudence Subcommittee on Appropriative Matters Environmental Affairs Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Pollution Control (Chair) Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Wildlife Preservation General Investigating House Administration (Chair) Migrant Farm Workers, House Joint
64th R.S. - 1975 Board of Managers Elections Functions of the Judiciary, Select House Administration (Chair) Impeachment, Select Joint City/Legislative Judicial Qualifications Commission Study, Special Revenue and Taxation State Artist Selection, Special Ways and Means
63rd R.S. - 1973 Agriculture and Livestock Agriculture and Livestock Subcommittee on Duplication in State-financed Agricultural Research Programs Animal Health Commission Environmental Affairs Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Pollution Control Transportation

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