MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, May 18, 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, May 18, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair	Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Brandon Creighton
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 9:02 AM.  The following business was transacted:

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 115 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 3578 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Johnson, to explain the bill.

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

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 1258 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.

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

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 3134 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

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

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 3474 and recognized Senator Campbell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

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

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Campbell assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 2625 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

No witnesses provided oral testimony or registered on HB 3799.

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 4018 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed. 

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

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

The chair laid out HB 4777 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 chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 3459 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

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

At 10:56 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:30 PM the Committee reconvened.

Public testimony continued on HB 3459.

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

The bill was temporarily left pending.

Senator Schwertner moved that HB 1258 be reported favorably 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 Schwertner moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 2625 be reported favorably 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 Huffman 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 Buckingham moved that HB 3134 be reported favorably 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Buckingham moved that HB 3459 be reported favorably 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 Nichols moved that HB 3474 be reported favorably 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Whitmire moved that HB 3578 be reported favorably 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 Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 3777 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

Senator Nelson moved that the adoption of the committee substitute to HB 4018; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Nelson moved that HB 4018 do not pass but that CSHB 4018 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 Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that the adoption of the committee substitute to HB 115; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 115 do not pass but that CSHB 115 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

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

Senator Creighton submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 1258, HB 2625, HB 3134, HB 3459, HB 3474, HB 3578, HB 3777 and HB 4018.

Senator Lucio submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 115, HB 1258, HB 2625, HB 3134, HB 3459, HB 3474, HB 3578, HB 3777 and HB 4018.

Senator Perry submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 115, HB 1258, HB 2625, HB 3134, HB 3459, HB 3474, HB 3578, HB 3777 and HB 4018.

Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 1258, HB 2625, HB 3134, HB 3459, HB 3474, HB 3578 and HB 3777.

There being no further business, at 3:50 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