MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Thursday, February 25, 2021

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

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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 Business & Commerce was held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, in the Senate Chamber.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair	None
Senator Robert Nichols, Vice Chair
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Angela Paxton
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator John Whitmire

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. Other members in attendance: Senator Carol Alvarado, Senator Paul Bettencourt, Senator Brian Birdwell, Senator Cesar Blanco, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Senator Roland Gutierrez, Senator Bob Hall, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Senator Eddie Lucio, Senator Borris Miles, Senator Jane Nelson, Senator Charles Perry, Senator Beverly Powell, Senator Drew Springer, and Senator Royce West.

There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the committee rules. There being no objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock discussed the intent and logistics of the hearings.

Senator Hancock made an opening statement and lead the members in a prayer.

The Chair opened invited testimony on the following purpose:

The purpose of this hearing is to examine extreme weather condition preparedness and circumstances that led to the power outages as directed by Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The committee will also review generator preparedness and performance, utility outage practices, natural gas supply, and the reliability of renewable generation, as well as overall ERCOT system resilience.

Witnesses testifying and registering are shown on the attached list.

There being no further business, at 10:54 PM Senator Hancock moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair

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Kennedy Calvo, Clerk