MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 12, 2021

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, April 12, 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

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair made opening remarks.

 

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 63 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nelson moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute was adopted and layout a new committee substitute, without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Nelson moved adoption of the new committee substitute, without objection it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 63 do not pass but that CSSB 63 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.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 609.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute laid out at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 609 do not pass but that CSSB 609 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1195 in lieu of SB 372, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hancock moved that HB 1195 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 Hancock moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 153 and recognized the author, 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 senate bill as filed.  Senator Perry moved that the 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 313 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 620 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 678 and recognized the author, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Whitmire sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Alvarado to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Whitmire moved that the 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 706 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1, explained the amendment and then pulled it down.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 2, explained the amendment and then pulled it down.

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 3, explained the amendment and then pulled it down.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1029 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 1105 and recognized Senator Schwertner, 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 left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1245 and recognized Senator Hancock, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hancock to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Hancock moved that the 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1438 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, 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 1524 and recognized Senator Schwertner, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Schwertner moved that the 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 1445 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1827 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1794 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Public testimony was heard.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on all bills except SB 1794 and SB 1827; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Perry moved that SB 153 do not pass but that CSSB 153 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 Perry moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman moved that SB 313 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 Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 678 do not pass but that CSSB 678 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 1 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 706 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 Huffman moved that SB 1029 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 Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Schwertner laid out the committee substitute for SB 1105 that was explained when the bill was laid out.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Senator Perry moved that SB 1245 do not pass but that CSSB 1245 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 Perry moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1438 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1524 do not pass but that CSSB 1524 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Nichols moved that HB 1445 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 moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Public testimony continued.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 1794 and SB 1827; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West asked to be shown voting aye on SB 153, SB 313, SB 678, SB 706 and SB 1029. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 63 and HB 1195. He asked to be shown voting nay on SB 609.  

 

Senator Buckingham submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 63, SB 609, HB 1195, SB 153, SB 313, SB 678, SB 706, SB 1029, SB 1245, SB 1438, SB 1524 and HB 1445.  

 

Senator Creighton submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 153, SB 313, SB 678, SB 706, SB 1029, SB 1245, SB 1438, SB 1524 and HB 1445. 

 

Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 63, SB 609 and SB 1438.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 63, SB 609, HB 1195, SB 153, SB 313, SB 678, SB 706, SB 1029, SB 1245, SB 1524 and HB 1445.  He asked to be shown voting nay on SB 1438.

 

There being no further business, at 12:33 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk