MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Wednesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Nichols, Chair		Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Don Huffines, Vice Chair
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 HB 441 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 441 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2216 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 2216 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 745 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Taylor, 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 745 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1814 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Taylor, 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 1814 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2612 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hall, 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 2612 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1716 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The roll was called, and a quorum was established.

Testimony on HB 1716 continued. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols moved that HB 1716 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4025 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill. Senator Huffines sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti 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. Senator Nichols moved that HB 4025 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1045 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

Senator Hall sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hall 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.

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

Testimony continued.

Senator Nichols resumed the chair.

Testimony continued.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols moved that SB 1045 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 1252 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 Nichols moved that HB 1252 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 and Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nichols resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 441, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Huffines moved that HB 441 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 and Senator Kolkhorst 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 HB 745, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Taylor moved that HB 745 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 and Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Taylor moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1716, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Huffines moved that HB 1716 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 and Senator Kolkhorst 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 HB 1814, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Taylor moved that HB 1814 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 and Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Taylor moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2216, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Huffines moved that HB 2216 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 and Senator Kolkhorst 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 HB 2612, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Hall moved that HB 2612 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 and Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hall moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4025, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing. Senator Huffines moved adoption of a committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Huffines moved that HB 4025 do not pass but that CSHB 4025 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 716 as a matter of pending business. Senator Huffines moved that HB 716 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Kolkhorst requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 13 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols 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.

Senator Taylor assumed the chair.

Testimony continued.

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

Testimony continued.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Huffines moved that HB 13 and its proposed committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 20 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Huffines moved that HB 20 and its proposed committee substitute 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 2468.

There being no further business, at 10:59 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