MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER & RURAL AFFAIRS

Thursday, May 9, 2019

11:00 AM or upon adjournment/recess

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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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 Water & Rural Affairs was held on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles Perry, Chair	Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator José Rodríguez
Senator Larry Taylor

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:27 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, was suspended to hear the following bill(s):

House Bill 406

House Bill 721

House Bill 4690

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Nathan Johnson

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Senator Carol Alvarado

Senator José Rodríguez

Senator Nathan Taylor

The chair laid out HB 489 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Rodríguez moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 489 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1537 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill. No witnesses testified or registered on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Perry moved that HB 1537 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2340 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nathan Johnson, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 2340 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1824 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Flores, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 1824 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

As a matter of pending business, the chair laid out anew SB 978 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill. Senator Kolkhorst sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hughes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Kolkhorst moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry moved that SB 978 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1574 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 1574 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 406 in lieu of CSSB 516 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 406 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1181 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, 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 Perry moved that HB 1181 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3070 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 3070 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2729 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill. Senator Rodríguez sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Campbell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Rodríguez 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. Senator Perry moved that HB 2729 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1806 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, 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 Perry moved that HB 1806 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2914 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill. No witnesses testified or registered on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Perry moved that HB 2914 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 191 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 191 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3366 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 3366 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2305 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Perry moved that HB 2305 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2202 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill. No witnesses testified or registered on the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry moved that HB 2202 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4690 in lieu of CSSB 2507 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill. Senator Perry moved that HB 4690 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:30 PM Senator Rodríguez assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 137 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Perry, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Rodríguez moved that HB 137 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 721 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Perry, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Perry moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Witnesses 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 Rodríguez moved that HB 721 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:33 PM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 2846 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, 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 Perry moved that HB 2846 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 3:39 AM Senator Perry moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Charles Perry, Chair

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Leah Curren, Clerk