MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

9:00 AM

Ext. Auditorium

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in the Ext. Auditorium.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair		Senator Borris Miles
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator César Blanco
Senator Angela Paxton
Senator Drew Springer
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Taylor moved adoption of the committee rules. There being no objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 884 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Taylor moved 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 Birdwell moved that SB 884 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1102 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Springer sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  The committee substitute was left pending.

 

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 Birdwell moved that SB 1102 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1231 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Birdwell sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Taylor to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Springer moved 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 Springer moved that SB 1231 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1092 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Springer sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Creighton moved 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 Birdwell moved that SB 1092 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 788 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Springer sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Creighton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Springer moved 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 Birdwell moved that SB 788 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1094 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, 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 Birdwell moved that SB 1094 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 447 and recognized the author, 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.

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 447 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 702 and recognized the author, Senator Paxton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Springer sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Paxton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  The committee substitute was left pending.

 

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 Creighton moved that SB 702 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 346 and recognized the author, Senator Paxton, 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 Creighton moved that SB 346 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 480 and recognized Senator Birdwell, in the absence of the author, 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 Creighton moved that SB 480 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 165 and recognized the author, Senator Blanco, 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 Creighton moved that SB 165 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 11:41 AM Senator Creighton moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:12 PM Senator Creighton reconvened the meeting.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 702.

 

Senator Springer moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Springer moved that SB 702 do not pass but that CSSB 702 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 884.

 

Senator Blanco moved that SB 884 do not pass but that CSSB 884 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 447.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 447 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator West assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 788.

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 788 do not pass but that CSSB 788 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Creighton resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 2:17 PM Senator Creighton moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair

 

 

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Abby Johnston, Clerk