MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Thursday, March 25, 2021

9:00 AM

Betty King Committee Room

 

*****

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development was held on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair		None
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Bryan Hughes
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Kel Seliger

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Hughes, Seliger.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 43.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 43 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Alvarado, Hughes, and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 43.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 44.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 44 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Alvarado, Hughes, and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 44.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 211.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 211 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Hughes, and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 211.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 244.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 244 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senators Hughes and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 244.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 291.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 291 do not pass but that CSSB 291 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Hughes and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 291.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 297.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 297 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Hughes and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 297.

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 367.

 

Senator Alvarado moved that SB 367 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senators Hughes and Seliger submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 367.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 818 and recognized the author, Senator Powell, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 818 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 676 and recognized the author, Senator Springer, 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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 676 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 700 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute.

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 700 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 952 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 952 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 518 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst.

 

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

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 518 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:38 AM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1046 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1046 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 11:49 AM Senator Birdwell resumed the chair.

 

At 11:50 AM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 3:10 PM Senator Birdwell reconvened the meeting.

 

The committee stood at ease temporarily.

 

At 3:13 PM Senator Alvarado assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1255 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

At 3:15 PM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1255 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1256 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, 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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1256 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1257 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1257 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1261 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, 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.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1261 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:43 PM Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 5:44 PM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Clinton Harned, Clerk