MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, March 30, 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, March 30, 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 9:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out SB 1 as a matter of pending business.

The chair laid out three correction riders.

Senator Kolkhorst moved adoption of a contract tracing rider to be put in Article IX, there was no objection.

Senator Huffman moved adoption of a revision to ERS Rider 4, there was no objection. 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of a correction to Rider 25, Boll Weevil Eradication Program, in Article VI. Without objection, the rider was adopted.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1 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 Nelson moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1 do not pass but that CSSB 1 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and not be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1336 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 197 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 220 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 477 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 478 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 742 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 778 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. 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was left pending.

The chair laid out SB 799 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. 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 800 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. 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1156 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 813 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 248 and recognized the author, Senator Johnson, to explain the bill.

Senator Buckingham sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Johnson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Buckingham sent up Committee Amendment 1.  The chair recognized Senator Buckingham to explain the amendment. 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 851 and recognized Senator Perry, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

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

At 10:52 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed until 11:00 AM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 11:01 AM the Committee reconvened.

Senator Nichols assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 197 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Nichols moved that SB 220 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Buckingham moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 for SB 248; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Buckingham requested unanimous consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Buckingham then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Buckingham moved that SB 248 do not pass but that CSSB 248 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 477 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson moved that SB 478 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 742 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 799; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson moved that SB 799 do not pass but that CSSB 799 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 800; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson moved that SB 800 do not pass but that CSSB 800 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Nichols moved that SB 813 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Campbell moved that SB 851 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1156 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 1336 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

There was no action taken on SB 902.

Senators Campbell, Creighton and Lucio asked to be shown voting aye on any bills voted on where they missed the vote.  There was no objection.  

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing and asked to be shown voting aye on SB 197, SB 220, SB 248, SB 477, SB 478, SB 742, SB 778, SB 799, SB 800, SB 813, SB 851 and SB 1156.  He asked to be shown voting nay on SB 1336.

There being no further business, at 11:20 AM 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