MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Thursday, May 7, 2015

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

 

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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 State Affairs was held on Thursday, May 7, 2015, in the Senate Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

None

Senator Rodney Ellis, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Troy Fraser

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1937.

 

Senator Estes moved that HB 1937 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 Birdwell, Senator Creighton, and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business the committee substitute to SB 1940.

 

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

 

Senator Huffman moved that SB 1940 do not pass but that CSSB 1940 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 Birdwell, Senator Creighton, and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out, as a matter of pending business, SB 218 and its House Companion, HB 3123, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain HB 3123.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that HB 3123 do not pass but that CSHB 3123 be reported back 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 0 absent. Senator Birdwell, Senator Creighton, and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 80 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini 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 Chair moved that HB 80 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 820 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Rodriguez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Ellis assumed the chair.

 

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 resumed the chair.

 

The chair moved that SB 820 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1756 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1756 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

The chair laid out HB 2154 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

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.

 

The chair moved that HB 2154 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SJR 8 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, 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. 

 

The chair moved that SJR 8 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1388 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Creighton, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1388 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1388.

 

Senator Creighton moved that HB 1388 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 0 absent. Senator Estes, Senator Fraser, and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Creighton 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 HB 1756.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 1756 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 0 absent. Senator Estes, Senator Fraser, and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to HB 2154.

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that HB 2154 do not pass but that CSHB 2154 be reported back 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 0 absent. Senator Fraser, and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell 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 the committee substitute to SB 820.

 

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

 

Senator Ellis moved that SB 820 do not pass but that CSSB 820 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 Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 SJR 8.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SJR 8 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 0 absent. Senator Fraser and Senator Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, the Chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill: HB 2536.

 

 

 

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

 

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Ashley Brooks, Clerk