MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

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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 Finance was held on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	None
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Carlos Uresti
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1.

Senator Nelson announced the following workgroup:

Workgroup on Special Items:

Senator Seliger, Chair

Senator Hinojosa

Senator Kolkhorst

Senator Watson

Senator Taylor

Testimony was heard on SB 1 – Article III.  Witnesses testifying and registering are shown on the attached list.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Senator Nelson announced the following workgroup:

Workgroup on Transferability:

Senator West, Chair

Senator Nichols

Senator Taylor

Available University Fund

Higher Education Fund

National Research University Fund

Permanent Fund Supporting Military and Veterans Exemptions

At 10:51 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed until one hour after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 1:03 PM the Committee reconvened. 

General Academic Institutions, Lamar State Colleges, Texas State Technical Colleges

Texas Woman’s University

Health Related Institutions

Texas A&M University System Administration

· Texas A&M University System Health Science Center

· Texas A&M University – Texarkana

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

· Texas A&M University – San Antonio

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

· Texas A&M University – Central Texas

· Texas A&M International University

· Texas A&M University – Kingsville

· Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

· Prairie View A&M University

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

· Texas A&M University – Galveston

· West Texas A&M University

· Texas A&M University – Commerce

· Tarleton State University

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

· Texas A&M University

Texas A&M AgriLife Research

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas A&M Forest Service

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station

Texas Transportation Institute

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Texas Engineering Extension Services

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Texas State University System

· Lamar University

· Sam Houston State University

· Sul Ross State University and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College

· Texas State University

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

· Lamar Institute of Technology

· Lamar University Port Arthur

· Lamar University Orange

University of Houston System Administration & University of Houston

Senator Nelson resumed.

· University of Houston – Downtown

· University of Houston – Clear Lake

· University of Houston – Victoria

Public testimony was heard.

Senator Nelson closed public testimony. 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 8:23 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk