MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

8:30 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 Criminal Justice was held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire, Chair	None
Senator Pete Flores, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Phil King
Senator Borris Miles

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:32 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Senator Flores moved adoption of the committee rules. The committee rules were adopted by the following vote: 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent, 0 present not voting.

Senator Flores assumed the Chair.

The Chair laid out SB 402 and recognized the author, Senator Whitmire, 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 Whitmire moved that SB 402 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Miles submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on SB 402.

Senator Whitmire resumed as Chair.

The Chair laid out SB 1004 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

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

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 Huffman moved for the adoption of the committee substitute. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Huffman moved that SB 1004 do not pass but that CSSB 1004 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt and Senator Miles submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1004.

The Chair laid out SJR 44 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SJR 44 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, 1 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Miles submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting present not voting on SJR 44.

At 10:51 AM The Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess while the Senate was in session, and it was so ordered.

At 1:15 PM Senator Whitmire reconvened the meeting.

The Chair laid out SB 1318 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SB 1318 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered by the Chair.

The Chair laid out SB 645 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

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

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 Huffman moved for the adoption of the committee substitute. There being no objection, it was so ordered by the Chair. Senator Huffman moved that SB 645 do not pass but that CSSB 645 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Hinojosa and Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 645.

The Chair laid out SB 1319 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

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

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 Huffman moved for the adoption of the committee substitute There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Huffman moved that SB 1319 do not pass but that CSSB 1319 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing requesting to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1319.

The Chair laid out SB 287 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

Senator Huffman sent up a committee substitute.  The Chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Huffman moved for the adoption of the committee substitute.

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 Huffman asked that SB 287 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered by the Chair.

There being no further business, at 4:47 PM the Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator John Whitmire, Chair

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Juan Negrete, Clerk