MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER SECURITY

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

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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 Border Security was held on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair	None
Senator Pete Flores, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Phil King

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator César Blanco

The chair laid out the following committee charge:

· Securing the Texas-Mexico Border: Review state and local agencies' participation in border security.

The following individuals provided invited testimony. (See attached witness list)

Panel One: State Agencies

Office of the Governor

Michael Banks, Border Czar

Department of Public Safety

Colonel Steve McCraw, Director

Texas Military Department

Major General Thomas Suelzer

Panel Two: Local Law Enforcement

Val Verde Sheriff’s Office and Border Sheriff’s Coalition

The Honorable Joe Frank Martinez, Sheriff

Brooks County Sheriff’s Office

The Honorable Urbino “Benny” Martinez, Sheriff

Texas Sheriff’s Association

The Honorable Bo Stallman, Brazoria County Sheriff

Panel Three: State Agencies

Office of Attorney General

Ryan Walters, Division Chief of Special Litigation

Office of Court Administration

Megan LaVoie, Administrative Director

Border Prosecution Unit

Tonya Spaeth Ahlschwede

Tom Krampitz

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Brian Collier, Executive Director

Panel Four: State Agencies

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Colonel Chad Jones, Texas Game Warden, Law Enforcement Division Director

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission 

Ronald Swenson, Chief of Enforcement

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Brandon Wood, Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Chief Gregory Stevens, Executive Director                          

The following individuals provided public testimony. (See attached witness list)

There being no further business, at 3:30 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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Jennifer Trevino, Clerk