MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Sunday, May 21, 2023

5:30 PM or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

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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 Local Government was held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Paul Bettencourt, Chair	Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Drew Springer, Vice Chair
Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Tan Parker
Senator Angela Paxton
Senator Royce West

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

Senators arriving after the chair gaveled in:

Senator Springer, Vice Chair

Senator Parker

The chair laid out HB 1775 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Eckhardt, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 1775 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3980 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nathan Johnson, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 3980 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1793 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Sparks, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 1793 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3528 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Middleton, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 3528 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3745 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 3745 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2542 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 2542 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4550 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 4550 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 5321 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill.

Senator West 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 5321 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 614 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 614 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 886 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 886 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1132 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 1132 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2232 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Springer, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 2232 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3127 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 3127 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3135 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 3135 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4217 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Bettencourt moved that HB 4217 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4250 and recognized Senator Eckhardt, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 4250 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Eckhardt sent up a committee substitute to lay out for HB 1634.  The chair recognized Senator Eckhardt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

Public testimony was opened, but no testimony was taken.

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

Senator Bettencourt moved that HB 1634 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 614.

Senator Paxton moved that HB 614 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

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

Senator West called for the vote to be reconsidered on HB 614.

Senator Paxton moved that HB 614 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 886.

Senator Parker moved that HB 886 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Parker 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 1793.

Senator Hall moved that HB 1793 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business the committee substitute for HB 1916.

Senator Nichols moved that the committee substitute for HB 1916 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2232.

Senator Parker moved that HB 2232 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

HB 2232 was reconsidered and left pending subject to the call of chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2542.

Senator West moved that HB 2542 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3528.

Senator Paxton moved that HB 3528 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Parker 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 4217.

Senator Paxton moved that HB 4217 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Parker 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 4250.

Senator Eckhardt moved that HB 4250 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 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 5175.

Senator Springer moved that HB 5175 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Springer 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 5340.

Senator Nichols moved that HB 5340 be reported to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

The chair called for a vote - the motion carried with a record vote of 8 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.

There being no further business, at 12:02 AM Senator Springer moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Paul Bettencourt, Chair

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Marissa Pryor, Clerk