MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 27, 2017

10:00 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 Monday, March 27, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
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 10:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SB 1083 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 711 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Van, 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 624 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Van, 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.

The bill was left pending.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 929 and recognized Senator Nelson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 9 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 275 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 931 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 745 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

Senator Kolkhorst sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hinojosa 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1557 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

Senator Kolkhorst sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Kolkhorst to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1539 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

No witnesses provided oral testimony or submitted witness cards for SB 1539.

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 533 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; 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.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1006 and recognized the author, 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. 

The bill was left pending.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 9 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 533 do not pass but that CSSB 533 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nelson recommended that CSSB 533 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 745 do not pass but that CSSB 745 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Nichols moved that SB 929 do not pass but that CSSB 929 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1083 do not pass but that CSSB 1083 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1539 do not pass but that CSSB 1539 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1557 do not pass but that CSSB 1557 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

There being no further business, at 1:22 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