MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

8:00 AM

Senate Chamber

 

*****

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services was held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in the Senate Chamber.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Chair

 

Senator Bryan Hughes

Senator Charles Perry, Vice Chair

 

Senator Borris Miles

Senator César Blanco

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Morgan LaMantia

 

 

Senator Kevin Sparks

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:01 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 54 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on HB 54.(See attached witness list). Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that HB 54 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 474 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, 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 Kolkhorst moved that HB 474 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2628 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, to explain the bill.

 

Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that SB 2628 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1156 and recognized the author, Senator Menéndez, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on SB 1156 (See attached witness list). Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that SB 1156 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:00 AM Senator Perry assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 852 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 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 Perry moved that HB 852 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1575 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 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 Perry moved that HB 1575 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:06 AM Senator Kolkhorst resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 492 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Sparks, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on HB 492 (See attached witness list). 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 Kolkhorst moved that HB 492 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1488 and recognized Senator LaMantia, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on HB 1488 (See attached witness list). Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that HB 1488 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1106 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

 

The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on HB 1106 (See attached witness list). Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that HB 1106 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1584 and recognized the author, Senator Hall, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hall sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hall to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide testimony on HB 1584 (See attached witness list). Public testimony was heard on 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 Kolkhorst moved that SB 1584 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair called for the committee to stand at ease at 9:58AM.

 

The chair called for the committee to reconvene at 10:00AM.

 

At 10:00 AM Senator Perry assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2086.

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 2086 do not pass but that CSSB 2086 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 2 absent. Senator Kolkhorst 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 SB 1930.

 

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. Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1930 do not pass but that CSSB 1930 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 2 absent. Senator Kolkhorst moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:04 AM Senator Kolkhorst resumed the chair. 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 624.

 

Senator Perry moved that HB 624 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 2 absent. Senator Perry 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 793.

 

Senator Perry moved that HB 793 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 2 absent. Senator Perry 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 SB 1342.

 

Senator Perry moved to withdraw the committee substitute considered at the April 19, 2023 hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry sent up a new committee substitute, and 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. Senator Perry moved that SB 1342 do not pass but that CSSB 1342 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 2 absent. Senator Perry 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 SB 2009. 

 

Senator Sparks moved to withdraw the committee substitute considered at the April 26, 2023 hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sparks sent up a new committee substitute, and the chair recognized Senator Sparks to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Sparks moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sparks moved that SB 2009 do not pass but that CSSB 2009 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 2 absent.

 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2489.

 

Senator Sparks moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Sparks moved that SB 2489 do not pass but that CSSB 2489 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 2 absent. Senator Sparks 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 SB 2548.

 

Senator Perry moved that SB 2548 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 2 absent. Senator Perry 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 SB 1584.

 

Senator Hall moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hall moved that SB 1584 do not pass but that CSSB 1584 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 2 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 10:14 AM Senator Blanco moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

A picture containing sketch, drawing, calligraphy, typography Description automatically generated

 

 

__________________________________________

A close-up of a black text Description automatically generated with low confidenceSenator Lois Kolkhorst, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Kimberly Robertson, Clerk