MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, May 1, 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, May 1, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair		Senator John Whitmire
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

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:04 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1514 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SJR 51 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols sent up committee substitutes for SB 1514 and SJR 51 .  The chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitutes and the senate bills as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitutes for SB 1514 and SJR 51; 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 bills were temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 84 and recognized the author, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SJR 61 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, 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 1321 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SB 1348 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1321 are shown on the attached list.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1348 are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 1321 and SB 1348; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

SB 1321 and SB 1348 were left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1031 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Larry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Taylor sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Taylor 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 Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1031 ; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1032 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Larry, 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 1505 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

At 12:30 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

At 5:34 PM the Committee reconvened.

 

 

The chair laid out HB 455 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 777 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1745 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SJR 55 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1745 and SJR 55 are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 1745 and SJR 55; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The bills were temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 2055 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 217 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Juan Hinojosa, 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 HB 1346 and recognized Senator Hancock, 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Taylor moved that SB 1031 do not pass but that CSSB 1031 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1505; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1505 do not pass but that CSSB 1505 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion failed with a record vote of 7 ayes, 4 nays, 1 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Taylor, Larry moved to reconsider the vote.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1514 do not pass but that CSSB 1514 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1745 be reported favorably 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 SB 1745 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SJR 51 do not pass but that CSSJR 51 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SJR 55 be reported favorably 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 SJR 55 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 217 be reported favorably 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nichols moved that HB 455 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nichols moved that HB 777 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hancock moved that HB 1346 be reported favorably 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 HB 1346 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1514, SB 1745, SJR 51, SJR 55, HB 217, HB 455, HB 777 and HB 1346.  Senator Kolkhorst asked to be shown voting nay on SB 1031.

 

Senator Schwertner submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1031, SB 1514, SB 1745, SJR 51, SJR 55, HB 217, HB 455, HB 777 and HB 1346.  Senator Schwertner asked to be shown voting nay on SB 1505.

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1514, SB 1745, SJR 51, SJR 55, HB 217, HB 455, HB 777 and HB 1346.  Senator West asked to be shown voting nay on SB 1031.

 

There being no further business, at 6:19 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