MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS

Thursday, May 4, 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, May 4, 2023, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles Perry, Chair	None
Senator Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair
Senator César Blanco
Senator Pete Flores
Senator Roland Gutierrez
Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Kevin Sparks
Senator Drew Springer

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

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

At 8:00 AM Senator Johnson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 2109 and recognized the Senate Perry, to explain the bill in absence of the senate sponsor. 

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 HB 2109 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 1761 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Perry, 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 Johnson moved that HB 1761 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2460 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Perry, 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 Johnson moved that HB 2460 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2759 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Perry, 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 Johnson moved that HB 2759 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 8:08 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

The chair laid out HB 1333 and recognized Senator Sparks, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1333 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 692 in lieu of SB 872.

Senator Springer moved that HB 692 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB 1535 in lieu of SB 2582.

Senator Johnson was recognized to explain some changes made on the bill.

Senator Johnson moved that HB 1535 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1555 in lieu of SB 2578.

Senator Johnson moved that HB 1555 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2388 in lieu of SB 735.

Senator Springer moved that HB 2388 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB 3065 in lieu of SB 1468.

Senator Springer moved that HB 3065 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

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

At 8:20 AM Senator Johnson assumed the chair.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1333.

Senator Kolkhorst moved that HB 1333 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1761.

Senator Perry moved that HB 1761 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2109.

Senator Sparks moved that HB 2109 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2460.

Senator Perry moved that HB 2460 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2759.

Senator Perry moved that HB 2759 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

At 8:22 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 8:23 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