MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS

Thursday, April 13, 2023

8:00 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 Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs was held on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles Perry, Chair		Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Pete Flores
Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Kevin Sparks
Senator Drew Springer

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:01 AM. There being a quorum present at 8:09 AM the following business was transacted:

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Hancock, Senator Blanco, Senator Johnson, and Senator Kolkhorst.

The chair laid out SB 872 and recognized the author, 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 Perry moved that SB 872 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1670 and recognized the author, Senator LaMantia, 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 Perry moved that SB 1670 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 8:11 AM Senator Johnson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1290 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Perry 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 Johnson moved that SB 1290 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 8:15 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 1839 and recognized Senator Flores, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Flores 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 Perry moved that SB 1839 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 2406 and recognized Senator Flores, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Flores 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 Perry moved that SB 2406 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out SB 1648 and SJR 74 and recognized the author, Senator Parker, to explain the bills.

Senator Hancock sent up committee substitutes for SB 1648 and SJR 74. The chair recognized Senator Parker to explain the difference between the committee substitutes and the senate bills as filed.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.

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

The chair laid out SB 2379 and recognized Senator Hancock, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Hancock 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 638.

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

Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 638 do not pass but that CSSB 638 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 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 SB 1091.

Senator Sparks moved that SB 1091 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

At 9:00 AM Senator Hancock assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1290.

Senator Perry moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Perry moved that SB 1290 do not pass but that CSSB 1290 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

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

At 9:02 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1839.

Senator Flores moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Flores moved that SB 1839 do not pass but that CSSB 1839 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Flores 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 2379.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 2379 do not pass but that CSSB 2379 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Hancock 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 2406.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 2406 do not pass but that CSSB 2406 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

Senator Hancock 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 1648.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 1648 do not pass but that CSSB 1648 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SJR 74.

Senator Hancock sent up a committee substitute. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved that SJR 74 do not pass but that CSSJR 74 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1670.

Senator Hancock moved that SB 1670 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out SB 1348 and recognized Senator Blanco, in the absence of the author, 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 Perry moved that SB 1348 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The Chair laid out SB 2379.

Senator Hancock sent up a 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 Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Hancock moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for SB 2379 was reported favorably to the Senate. Without objection, it was so ordered

Senator Hancock 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 9:16 AM Senator Perry moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Charles Perry, Chair

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Wrye Akers, Clerk