MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

*****

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 Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

*****

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair	Senator Borris Miles
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Vice Chair	Senator Kevin Sparks
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator César Blanco
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Bryan Hughes
Senator Lois Kolkhorst

*****

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 Carol Alvarado

Senator Bryan Hughes

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Chairman Birdwell called the following representative to provide invited testimony on the previously heard interim charge, Overcoming Federal Incompetence:

Office of the Attorney General

Lanora Pettit, Principal Deputy Solicitor General

The Chair laid out the following committee charge:

· Cement Production Plants: Examine the impacts of permanent cement production plants on local communities. Make recommendations to ensure they are strategically situated and uphold community standards while also fostering economic development.

Chairman Birdwell moved to include Senator Springer’s letter to the committee in the public record. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

Jon Niermann, Chair

University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology

Dr. Brent Elliott, Associate Research Professor, Economic Geologist

Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM)

Tony Bennett, President and CEO

Cement Council of Texas

Andrew Pinkerton, Executive Director

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

There being no further business, at 2:20 PM Senator Birdwell moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

__________________________________________

Senator Brian Birdwell, Chair

__________________________________________

Jennifer Trevino, Clerk