MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Thursday, May 14, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Natural Resources & Economic Development was held on Thursday, May 14, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Kel Seliger

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM. The following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 590 and HJR 64 together, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill. Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute to HB 590; the chair recognized Senator Bettencourt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

 

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on both HB 590 and HJR 64  are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on both bills; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved that HB 590 and HJR 64 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2230 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 Estes moved that HB 2230 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved that HB 2230 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 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out HCR 80 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.

There were no witnesses registered on the bill. Senator Fraser moved that HCR 80 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved that HCR 80 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 2 absent. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; 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.

 

The chair laid out HB 1709 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, 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 Fraser moved that HB 1709 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 1709 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 1 absent. Senator Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

The chair laid out HB 2732 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, 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 Fraser moved that HB 2732 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2732 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1535 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. Senator Fraser moved to limit testimony to two minutes; 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 Estes moved that HB 1535 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Fraser moved that HB 1535 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 1 absent.

 

Senator Fraser resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1657 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, Jr., 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 Fraser moved that HB 1657 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 1657 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 1 absent. Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 1398 and recognized the author, Senator Hall. Senator Hall sent up a committee substitute. Senator Fraser moved to pull down SB 1398 to allow time for review of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:44 AM the roll was called. A quorum was present.

 

The chair laid out HB 942 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Birdwell, 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 HB 942 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 1 absent. 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 HB 3291 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the committee substitute that was sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3291 do not pass but that CSHB 3291 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 1 absent. Senator Zaffirini 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 1398 again and recognized the author, Senator Hall. The chair recognized Senator Hall to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hall moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hall moved that SB 1398 do not pass but that CSSB 1398 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Motions in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye were submitted by the following: Senator Seliger on HB 942, HB 1535, HB 1657, HB 1709, HB 2230, HB 2732, HCR 80, CSHB 3291, and CSSB 1398; Senator Nichols on HB 942, HB 1535, HB 1657, HB 1709, HB 2230, HB 2732, HCR 80, CSHB 3291, and CSSB 1398; Senator Birdwll on HB 1657, HB 1709, HB 2230, and HB 2732. These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, at 10:30 AM Senator Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chair

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk