MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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 Tuesday, February 23, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	None
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Larry Taylor
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 made opening remarks.

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

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Available University Fund

Higher Education Fund

National Research University Fund

Permanent Fund Supporting Military and Veterans Exemptions

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

Health Related Institutions

Texas Woman’s University

Midwestern State University

Texas Southern University

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Stephen F. Austin State University

Texas A&M University System Administration

Texas A&M System Agencies

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service 

Texas A&M Forest Service

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station

Texas A&M System Universities

· Texas A&M University

· Texas A&M University - Galveston

At 3:45 PM Senator Nelson announced that the Committee stand in recess until one hour upon adjournment of the Senate.

At 6:16 PM the Committee reconvened.

· Prairie View A&M University

· Tarleton State University

· Texas A&M University - Central Texas

· Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

· Texas A&M University – Kingsville

· Texas A&M University – San Antonio

· Texas A&M International University

· West Texas A&M University

· Texas A&M University – Commerce

· Texas A&M University – Texarkana

Texas A&M University System Health Science Center

Texas State University System

· Lamar University

· Sam Houston State University

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

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

· Texas State University

· Lamar State College – Orange

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

· Lamar Institute of Technology

· Lamar State College – Port Arthur

University of North Texas System Administration

· University of North Texas

· University of North Texas at Dallas

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 

Public testimony was heard.

The chair closed testimony on Article III.

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

There being no further business, at 9:30 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed until Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk