MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 19, 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 19, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	Senator John Whitmire
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

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:03 AM. The following business was transacted:

The chair made opening remarks.

The chair laid out SB 683 and recognized the author, Senator Blanco, to explain the bill.

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Blanco 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 HB 1118 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Paxton, 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 296 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 Nelson 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 321 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Huffman 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.

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out SB 1449 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 653 and recognized the author, Senator Springer, 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 483 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 Nelson 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 1204 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 Nelson 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 1249 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill.

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

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 1658 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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.

Public testimony was heard.

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

Senator Perry moved that SB 296 do not pass but that CSSB 296 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, 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.

Senator Huffman moved that SB 321 do not pass but that CSSB 321 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, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 483 do not pass but that CSSB 483 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, 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.

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1204 do not pass but that CSSB 1204 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, 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.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1449 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 West sent up Committee Amendment 1 for HB 1118 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.

Senator West requested unanimous consent to incorporate Amendment 1 into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator West then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator West moved that HB 1118 do not pass but that CSHB 1118 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, 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.

Senator Lucio assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 1658 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.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

Senator Lucio laid out HB 917 in lieu of SB 620 that was pending in Committee. 

Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 917 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 Lucio moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1105; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1105 do not pass but that CSSB 1105 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, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute for SB 1827.  The chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Huffman moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Huffman moved that SB 1827 do not pass but that CSSB 1827 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

Senator Creighton submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1827.

There being no further business, at 12:26 PM 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