MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS

Monday, May 4, 2009

3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

 

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs was held on Monday, May 4, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Mike Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 3:16 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 1530 and, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained 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 chair moved that HB 1530 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 1530 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 968 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

The chair sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Uresti moved 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 Uresti moved that HB 968 do not pass but that CSHB 968 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 2405 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  The chair sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hinojosa moved 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 2405 do not pass but that CSSB 2405 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

The chair laid out HB 693 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 693 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2765 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 2765 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hegar moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 4:45 p.m. Senator Uresti assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 205 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 205 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  The chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 375 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  The chair sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Estes moved 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 Hinojosa moved that HB 375 do not pass but that CSHB 375 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  The chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1079 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 1079 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  The chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1805 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 1805 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  The chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1918 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Hegar moved that HB 1918 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  The chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 5:05 p.m. Senator Estes resumed the chair. 

 

The chair announced that Senator Hinojosa submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown that he vote aye on the following bills: HB 1805 and HB 1918.

 

There being no further business, at 5:05 p.m. the chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Craig Estes, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Raenetta Nance, Clerk