MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, May 20, 2021

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

*****

 

Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, May 20, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair

 

Senator John Whitmire

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

 

Senator Dawn Buckingham

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Joan Huffman

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Charles Perry

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair made opening remarks.

 

The chair laid out HB 3610 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 3702 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair laid out HJR 140 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair laid out HB 3973 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 3907 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Lucio sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 4368 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Buckingham sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Buckingham to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Nelson moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Buckingham moved that HB 4368 do not pass but that CSHB 4368 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

 

Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2696 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that HB 2696 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 6 absent.

 

Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on HB 3702 and HJR 140; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3375 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nathan Johnson, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 3375 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

 

Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1256 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 1256 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.

 

Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3898 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Nelson moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 3898 do not pass but that CSHB 3898 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

 

Senator Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 4068 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West moved that HB 4068 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 5 absent.

 

Senator West moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 2896 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

Senator Campbell submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 4368.

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 12:10 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk