MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS

Monday, April 12, 2021

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs was held on Monday, April 12, 2021, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles Perry, Chair		Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Senator Brandon Creighton
Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Beverly Powell

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. There being a quorum present at 8:06 AM, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Brandon Creighton

Senator Nathan Johnson

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Senator Roland Gutierrez

Senator Sarah Eckhardt

 

The Chair laid out SB 588 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 Perry moved that SB 588 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 997 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The Chair moved that SB 997 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 739 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

No witnesses testified or registered on the bill.

 

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

 

The Chair moved that SB 739 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1117 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

 

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 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 Perry moved that SB 1117 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1118 and recognized the author, Senator Johnson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The Chair moved that SB 1118 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1890 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

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 Perry moved that SB 1890 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:40 AM Senator Springer assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 703 and recognized Senator Perry, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair 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 Perry

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

 

 

The Chair sent up Committee Amendment 1 and recognized Senator Gutierrez to explain the amendment.

 

The Chair moved to withdraw Committee Amendment 1.

 

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 Springer moved that SB 703 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 8:52 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 703.

 

The Chair moved that SB 703 do not pass but that CSSB 703 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.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 739.

 

The Chair moved that SB 739 do not pass but that CSSB 739 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 1117.

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1117 do not pass but that CSSB 1117 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 Kolkhorst moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 1118.

 

Senator Johnson moved that SB 1118 do not pass but that CSSB 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 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 1890.

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1890 do not pass but that CSSB 1890 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 Creighton moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 8:58 AM, the chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Charles Perry, Chair

 

 

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Lauren Murray, Clerk