MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Thursday, April 15, 2021

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

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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 Natural Resources & Economic Development was held on Thursday, April 15, 2021, in the Senate Chamber.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair	Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Bryan Hughes
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Kel Seliger

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. A quorum being established at 9:07 AM the following business was transacted:

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

The chair laid out SB 1269 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, 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 1269 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 7 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, 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 HB 7 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1155 and recognized the author, 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.

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1155 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 881 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, 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 881 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1213.

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Seliger moved that the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1213 do not pass but that CSSB 1213 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senators Alvarado and Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1213.

Senator Seliger 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 900.

Senator Alvarado sent up a new committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Alvarado to explain the difference between the new committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Alvarado moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Alvarado moved that SB 900 do not pass but that CSSB 900 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 900.

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 as a matter of pending business SB 1818.

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

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1818 do not pass but that CSSB 1818 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1818.

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

At 9:31 AM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1260.

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1260 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1260.

Senator Birdwell 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 1263.

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.

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1263 do not pass but that CSSB 1263 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1263.

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

At 9:33 AM Senator Birdwell resumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1582.

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1582 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1582.

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 1668.

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

Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 1668 do not pass but that CSSB 1668 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hughes submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 1668.

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 SB 579 and recognized the author, Senator Eckhardt, to explain the bill.

The chair sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Eckhardt 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 579 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 9:43 AM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed until 45 minutes after adjournment of the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:48 PM Senator Birdwell reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1585.

Senator Hughes sent up a committee substitute.  Senator Hughes moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hughes moved that SB 1585 do not pass but that CSSB 1585 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out SB 1266 and recognized Senator Alvarado, in the absence of the author, 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 Alvarado moved that SB 1266 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2008 and recognized Senator Alvarado, in the absence of the author, 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 2008 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1072 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 1072 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1465 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

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

The chair laid out SB 695 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

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

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 695 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:20 PM Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1177 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1177 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1264 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1264 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1265 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1265 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1655 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1655 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 3:45 PM Senator Birdwell resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 3:46 PM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair

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Clinton Harned, Clerk