MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & BORDER SECURITY

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

8:30 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 Veteran Affairs & Border Security was held on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Donna Campbell, Chair		Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Bob Hall, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Larry Taylor

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 2903 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 2903 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 548 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Blanco, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Blanco sent up a committee substitute.

 

 The chair recognized Senator Blanco to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 548 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 911 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Blanco, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 911 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1062 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Taylor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HB 1062 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HCR 71 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Blanco, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Blanco sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Blanco to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HCR 71 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:41 AM Senator Hall assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1802 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 1802 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SCR 50 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hall moved that SCR 50 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:45 AM Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

 

The following persons provided public testimony on the following bills: HB 2903, HCR 71, and HB 1802 (see attached list).  Witnesses registering on the following bills: HB 548, HB 911, HB 912, HB 1062, and HCR 25 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 HCR 51 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Campbell sent up a committee substitute.

 

The chair recognized Senator Alvarado 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.

 

Senator Campbell moved that HCR 51 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2903.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 2903 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hall 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 HCR 51.

 

Senator Campbell then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hall moved that HCR 51 do not pass but that CSHCR 51 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Eckhardt 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 HB 548.

 

 

 

Senator Blanco then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 548 do not pass but that CSHB 548 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Blanco 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 HB 911.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 911 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hall 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 HB 912.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 912 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hall 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 HB 1062.

 

Senator Hall moved that HB 1062 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hall 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 HCR 25.

 

Senator Hall moved that HCR 25 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Hall 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 HCR 71.

 

Senator Blanco then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hall moved that HCR 71 do not pass but that CSHCR 71 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

At 9:11 AM Senator Hall assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1802.

 

Senator Blanco moved that HB 1802 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SCR 50.

 

Senator Taylor moved that SCR 50 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

At 9:14 AM Senator Campbell resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 9:14 AM Senator Campbell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Donna Campbell, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Brandon Gajeton, Clerk