Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions, an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for research.
The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act
(V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an
archivist or submit a request by mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O.
Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see
our web page (
Records series described in this finding aid have access restrictions specific to each of them. The terms of access are found following the series' descriptions.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state, elected by the citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of the governor include serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces; convening special sessions of the legislature for specific purposes; delivering to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session a report on the condition of the state, an accounting of all public money under the governor's control, a recommended biennial budget, an estimate of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation, and any recommendations he deems necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature; and executing the laws of the state. The governor can grant reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons, upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and revoke conditional pardons. He appoints numerous state officials (with the consent of the Senate), fills vacancies in state and district offices (except vacancies in the legislature), calls special elections to fill vacancies in the legislature, fills vacancies in the United States Senate until an election can be held, and serves as ex officio member of several state boards.
The office of governor was first established by the Constitution of 1845 and superseded the office of president of the Republic of Texas. The position now exists under authority of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of 1876 and Texas Government Code, Chapter 401. To be elected governor, a person must be at least thirty years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Texas for at least five years preceding the election. In 1972, the term of office was extended from two to four years, effective in 1975. Since 1856 the governor has had the use of the Governor's Mansion.
In 1999 there were 198 full time equivalent employees in the Office of the Governor. Thirteen divisions outside of the Executive Office assist the governor in carrying out his functions: Administration, Appointments, Budget & Planning, Communications, General Counsel, Legislative, Policy, Scheduling, Criminal Justice Division, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, Office of Film, Music, Television and Multimedia Industries, Women's Commission, and Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.
(Sources include:
The Legislative Office (also referred to as the Legislative Affairs Office) in the Office of the Texas Governor advises the governor on legislative matters and assists in developing and promoting the governor's legislative goals. Former State Senator Dan Shelley served as Legislative Director in 1995 and part of 1996; Terral Smith served as director from 1996 to 2000. Deputy directors (from one to three at a given time) were Stacie Lawson (1995-1996), Michael Jewell (1997), Greg Davidson (1997-2000), Lizzette Gonzales (1997-2000), and Laura Lawlor (1999).
George W. Bush served as governor of Texas from January 17, 1995 to December 21, 2000, resigning as governor in the middle of his second term to become president of the United States.
He challenged the incumbent governor, Democrat Ann Richards, running on promises to improve public education and to reform the juvenile justice system, welfare, and the state's tort laws -- the system under which an injured person may sue for damages. During the 74th Legislature in 1995, he worked with the Democrats who controlled both houses of the Texas legislature and managed to get bills passed that dealt with the four issues he had emphasized in his campaign. Bush was seen as pro-business and a consensus-builder.
Bush advocated and signed the two largest tax cuts to date in Texas history, totaling over $3 billion. To pay for the cuts, he sought (unsuccessfully) federal approval of a plan to privatize Texas' social services. Education reform was a priority throughout his terms, with legislation emphasizing local control of schools, higher standards, and a revised curriculum. Controversy has followed, with charter schools mired in financial scandals and protests against one test determining a child's promotion. After winning reelection in 1998, Bush began his bid for the presidency and was not as involved in the 76th Legislature in 1999.
George W. Bush was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Andover Academy, and received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master's from Harvard Business School. He served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. In 1978, Bush was defeated in a run for the U.S. Congress in West Texas. He was involved in energy exploration from the 1970s into the 1980s. From 1989 until his election as governor, Bush worked with the Texas Rangers baseball organization, leading a group of partners in purchasing the team, and then serving as managing general partner. He married Laura Welch in 1977; they have two daughters.
(Sources include: Versions of the Governor's Office web site during Governor Bush's term
available on the Internet Archive at
The Legislative Office under Texas Governor George W. Bush (also referred to as the Legislative Affairs Office) advised the governor on legislative matters and assisted in developing and promoting the governor's legislative goals. These records include bill files (correspondence, signature sheets, action reports, bill analyses, bill histories, copies of bills (initial, enrolled, engrossed), memoranda, notes, press releases, and news clippings), correspondence (letters, memoranda, e-mail, and faxes), resumes, and subject files (containing notes, articles, newspaper clippings, press releases, reports, tables, issue papers, briefing documents, talking points, conference papers, procedure drafts, brochures, agenda, legislation, litigation, etc.). They date 1988, 1990, 1992-2000, and undated, bulk 1995-2000. These records document the work of the Governor's office in promoting the passage of key legislation during the 74th, 75th, and 76th Texas Legislatures.
The staff records (Director's correspondence,
and Deputy Director's research/resource files) are particularly rich in
documenting education (especially the promotion of literacy and reading, the
These records are organized by the agency and State Archives staff into four series.
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Preliminary survey by Nancy Enneking, September 2002
Preliminary survey of TNRCC bill files by Tonia J. Wood, October 2002
Director Dan Shelley's correspondence and Deputy Director Lizzette Gonzales' files processed by Tony Black, December 2002
Legislative Office records recreated as a stand-alone finding aid to comply with TARO file size restrictions by Tony Black, November 2010
Bill files processed by Tony Black, November 2010
TNRCC bill files processed by Tony Black, December 2010
Finding aid updated by Tonia J. Wood, April 2013
Accession number: 2002/151, 2003/026
In December 2000, Governor George W. Bush designated the George Bush Presidential Library as the repository for the records from his tenure as Governor of Texas, under authority of Texas Government Code, Section 441.201. Shortly after he left office, the records were shipped to the Bush Library in College Station, Texas. Texas Attorney General John Cornyn ruled the records are state records subject to the Texas Public Information Act and the management of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission even after transfer to a federal facility (Opinion No. JC-0498, May 3, 2002). In July 2002 the records were transferred from the Bush Library to the Texas State Archives in Austin for preparation for research use. In June 2003, a memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of the National Archives and Records Administration, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and George W. Bush replaced a January 2002 interim memorandum of understanding. The records were moved to the George W. Bush Presidential Library in February 2013.
The Director of the Legislative Office advised Texas Governor George W. Bush on legislative matters and assisted in developing and promoting the governor's legislative goals. These records comprise correspondence of Dan Shelley, Director of the Legislative Office during the first year of Texas Governor George W. Bush's first term, and include correspondence, resumes, press releases, and news clippings, dated 1994-1995 (some from December 1994, but mostly January-March 1995). Most of the correspondence is from private citizens and state elected and appointed officials, addressed to Dan Shelley (with a few items to Governor or Governor-elect Bush). The majority are requests for appointments, either by third parties recommending another, or by the job-seeker him/herself (hence the large number of resumes). A smaller number of items involve support for, or opposition to, proposed legislation, on a variety of issues: sexual misconduct by clergy, psychotherapists, and health care professionals; prison overcrowding; tort reform; hazardous waste disposal; regulation of mortgage lenders; concealed handguns; initiative/referendum; etc.
Former Texas State Senator Dan Shelley was appointed Director of the Legislative Office (he was sometimes also referred to as Legislative Liaison) by governor-elect George W. Bush, and served during 1995 (and part of 1996). He was replaced as Director by former State Representative (1981-1991) Terral Smith, who served through the rest of Governor Bush's tenure.
These records are arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by last name of correspondent.
(Identify the item), Director Dan Shelley's correspondence, Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, social security numbers (V.T.C.A., Government
Code, Section 552.101); personal family information (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section
552.117); Texas driver's license numbers (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.130);
and written or oral communications by citizens to members of the legislature (V.T.C.A.,
Government Code, Section 306.004), an archivist must review these records before they
can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the
provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The
researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail (Texas
State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax
(512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our web page (
Dan Shelley
was a Texas State Senator until the start of the 74th Legislature (January 10,
1995); therefore all citizens' communications to him
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
Tony Black, December 2002
The Deputy Director in Texas Governor George W. Bush's Legislative Office assisted in developing and promoting the governor's legislative goals. These records are mainly resource/research files of Lizzette Gonzales, Deputy Director of the Legislative Office under Governor George W. Bush. They include correspondence (especially memoranda, e-mail, and faxes), notes, articles, newspaper clippings, press releases, reports, tables, issue papers, briefing documents, talking points, conference papers, procedure drafts, brochures, agenda, legislation, litigation, etc., dating 1988, 1990, 1992-2000, and undated, bulk 1998-2000. Topics of these subject files include education above all else (including literacy, school-to-work, school finance, and charter schools), but also child support enforcement, border trade and transportation, unmarried teen parents, a statewide gang database, illegal gambling, and welfare reform.
Less than one-third of the material is labeled
Correspondents include Texas Education Agency (especially Mike Moses, Commissioner of Education), U.S. Department of Education, Texas Workforce Commission (especially Commissioner Diane Rath and Mark Butler, State Coordinator, School-to-Careers), Texas state legislators and legislative committees, staff of the Texas Governor's Office (especially Margaret LaMontagne, Ara Marjanian, Jennifer Piskun, Jim Underwood, Debra Esterak, Alberto Gonzales, Ashley Copeland, and Terral Smith), Governor Bush himself, the Adult Education Accountability Task Force, and education-related vendors and organizations. Deputy Director Lizzette Gonzales is either the sender or the recipient of most of the e-mail, and a few of the letters; the rest of the communications seem to have been either referred to her for response or copied to her for her information. Much of it went through Margaret LaMontagne.
Lizzette Gonzales was one of the Deputy Directors of the Legislative Office during the tenure of Governor George W. Bush, at least from 1997-2000. Other persons who held one of the positions of Deputy Director were Stacie Lawson (1995-1996), Michael Jewell (1997), Laura Lawlor (1999), and Greg Davidson (1997-2000); however, none of them seem to be referenced in these files.
These records are arranged by State Archives staff in two groups: legislative agenda issues, and education issues. (The first group does contain some files that deal with education issues as well.) Within each group, files are maintained in the order received from the agency; arrangement is by topic, but there is neither an alphabetical nor a chronological order.
(Identify the item), Deputy Director Lizzette Gonzales' files, Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, Texas driver's license numbers (V.T.C.A.,
Government Code, Section 552.130); audit working papers (V.T.C.A., Government Code,
Section 552.116); agency memoranda (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.111); and
attorney-client privilege (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.107), an archivist
must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be
requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A.,
Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist
or submit a request by mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box
12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see
our web page (
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
Tony Black, December 2002
The Legislative Office under Texas Governor George W. Bush (also referred to as the Legislative Affairs Office) advised the governor on legislative matters and assisted in developing and promoting the governor's legislative goals. These records are bill files for the 74th, 75th, and 76th Legislature, 1995-1999, maintained by Governor Bush's Legislative Office. The files contain correspondence, signature sheets, action reports, bill analyses, bill histories, copies of bills (initial, enrolled, engrossed), memoranda, notes, press releases, and news clippings. They date 1995, 1997, and 1999.
Bill files for the 74th Legislature, 1995, usually consist of two folders per bill. It appears only the bills actually signed by the Governor are included in the files documenting the 74th Legislature. The first file can contain the following types of materials (though few files contain all of these items): correspondence between the Governor's Office and the bill author re: bill signing; copy of the Governor's signature sheet (with his signature as well as the Lieutenant Governor's, the Speaker's, and the Clerk's); Governor's action report; Governor's Legislative Steering Group (LSG) bill analysis; Legislative Information System (LIS) bill history; a copy of the enrolled bill; and memoranda. The second file can contain the following types of materials (though few files contain all of these items): a red delivery sheet (bill has been delivered to Governor's office) with a timeline for the Governor's signing process; LSG bill analysis; copy of the bill as passed and sent to the Governor; House Research Organization (HRO) bill analysis; bill amendments; LIS House Committee bill analysis report; copy of the initial bill; copy of engrossed bill; and enrolled bill memorandum checklists. Very rarely, some files contain a subject file on the topic of the bill, as, for example, the Clean Air Act. Such files can contain notes, press releases, clippings, memoranda, and/or correspondence.
For the 75th Legislature, 1997, it appears as though all (or at least the vast majority) of the bills introduced during the 75th Legislature are represented in bill files documenting that session. Bills that were not signed contain far less, often minimal, documentation. The legislative process in the Governor's Office is best documented by the bill files created during this Session. The most minimal bill files contain only a single copy of a filed bill. Other, more complete files contain some combination of the following: Enrolled bill memorandum checklist; Legislation delivery and timeline sheet; LIS bill history; LIS House Committee bill analysis report; LIS Senate committee witness list report; LIS House committee witness list report; Legislative Budget Board (LBB) fiscal note; LSG - bill progress tracking chart, bill survey form, Senate committee report analysis form, Senate passed analysis form, House committee report analysis form, House passed analysis form, conference committee analysis form, final bill analysis form with signing recommendation (all the LSG documents were created by the Governor's Office to analyze the bill); HRO bill analysis; copies of the various stages and evolutions of the bill and attachments; correspondence (some copies of letters in colored folders--usually red but sometimes pink or gold--the originals of which are most likely filed with Correspondence/Constituent Services Office, Central correspondence file); memoranda (from agencies, others); bill signing ceremony request form, and the Governor's signature sheet.
For the 76th Legislature, 1999, it appears as though all (or at least the vast majority) of the bills introduced during the 76th Legislature are represented in bill files documenting that session. Bills that were not signed contain far less, often minimal, documentation. Materials typically found in these files are LBB criminal justice policy impact statements, fiscal notes, actuarial and funding impact statements; copies of bills at various stages; and copies of correspondence. Some files contain only a single copy of the bill in question, some contain the majority of the documents listed, but the average file contains simply several bill copies, the legislation delivery and timeline sheet, and a copy of the Governor's signature sheet. Bill analyses from any of the bodies involved in the legislative process appear to be missing. The information documenting the decision making in the Governor's Office seems to be largely absent.
See also
These records are arranged by creating agency and State Archives staff by legislative session, then type (House or Senate bill or resolution), and then numerically.
(Identify the item), Bill files, Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act
exceptions including, but not limited to, audit working papers (V.T.C.A., Government
Code, Section 552.116); agency memoranda (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.111);
and attorney-client privilege (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.107), an archivist
must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be
requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A.,
Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist
or submit a request by mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box
12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see
our web page (
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
Preliminary survey by Nancy Enneking, September 2002
Processed by Tony Black, November 2010
An amendment to the Texas
Constitution (passed on November 3, 1964) requires a specific filing for any
legislation
These records are Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) bill files concerning proposed legislation that required TNRCC review under this constitutional amendment. They date February to May 1999 (for the 76th Legislative session only). A typical file contains a letter from Steven Walden (director of the Water Utilities Division, TNRCC) to Governor Bush containing agency comments on the bill; a signature sheet (containing the signatures of the chief clerk of the House of Representatives or the secretary of the Senate, the Governor, and Mr. Walden); a copy of the bill itself; and a publisher's affidavit with attached public notice (of intent to introduce the bill).
These records are arranged by the creating agency and State Archives staff numerically by bill number.
(Identify the item), Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission bill files, Texas Governor George W. Bush Legislative Office records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
None.
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
None.
Accession number: 2003/026
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Office of the Governor on October 9, 2002.
Preliminary survey by Tonia J. Wood, October 2002
Processed by Tony Black, December 2010