MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 Transportation was held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Robert Nichols, Chair

 

None

Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

 

Senator Troy Fraser

 

 

Senator Sylvia Garcia

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Van Taylor

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1918 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, 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 Nichols moved that SB 1918 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2055 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, 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 Nichols moved that SB 2055 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 1511 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

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

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 Nichols moved that SB 1511 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 629 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, 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 Nichols moved that SB 629 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The roll was called, and a quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1837.  Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Huffines moved that SB 1837 do not pass but that CSSB 1837 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, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.   Senator Huffines 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 58.  Senator Garcia moved that SB 58 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 320.  Senator Garcia moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Garcia moved that SB 320 do not pass but that CSSB 320 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; Senator Fraser and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1424.  Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Huffines moved that SB 1424 do not pass but that CSSB 1424 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 Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so

ordered.   Senator Huffines 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 1788.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 1788 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 , Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1803.  Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Huffines moved that SB 1803 do not pass but that CSSB 1803 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 Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.   Senator Huffines 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 1875.  Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Huffines moved that SB 1875 do not pass but that CSSB 1875 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, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.   Senator Huffines 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 1919.  Senator Hancock moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

Senator Hancock moved that SB 1919 do not pass but that CSSB 1919 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; Senator Fraser and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1242 and recognized the author, Senator Rodríguez, 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 Nichols moved that SB 1242 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1511, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Hancock moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hancock moved that SB 1511 do not pass but that CSSB 1511 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, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hancock moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1918, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 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 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2055, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Huffines moved that SB 2055 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 Fraser, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Taylor requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 93 and recognized Senator Garcia, 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 Nichols moved that SB 93 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1242, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Garcia moved that SB 1242 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, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out HB 2208 and recognized Senator Garcia, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Nichols moved that HB 2208 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 122 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached ist.

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

Senator Huffines moved that HB 122 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 219 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, 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 Huffines moved that HB 219 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 833 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.  The chair opened the floor for public testimony. There being none, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Huffines moved that HB 833 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nichols resumed the chair.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s): HB 75.

 

There being no further business, at 9:55 AM Senator Nichols moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Robert Nichols, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk