MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

10:00 AM

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 Veteran Affairs was held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair	Senator Sarah Eckhardt
Senator Tan Parker, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Kevin Sparks

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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 chair laid out SB 422 by Senator Paxton and recognized Senator Parker to explain the bill. Senator Parker sent up the committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Parker to explain the difference in the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved that SB 422 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 653 by Senator Blanco and recognized the author to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved that SB 653 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1376 by Senator Parker and recognized the author to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved that SB 1376 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Parker assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1859 by Senator Hancock and recognized the author to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. The chair moved that SB 1859 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1859, as a matter of pending business, by Senator Hancock. Senator Hancock moved that SB 1859 be reported back to the full senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Hancock moved that SB 1859 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 422, as a matter of pending business, by Senator Paxton. Senator Parker moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Parker moved that the SB 422 do not pass but the committee substitute to SB 422 do pass and be recommended to the full senate. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Parker moved that SB 422 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1376, as a matter of pending business, by Senator Parker. Senator Parker moved that SB 1376 be reported back to the full senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Parker moved that SB 1376 be recommended for the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the committee stood in recess subject to the call of the chair.

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Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair

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Kennedy Calvo, Clerk