MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

8:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Troy Fraser

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 2574 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Uresti moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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 Uresti moved that SB 2574 do not pass but that CSSB 2574 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 456 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., 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 Averitt moved that SB 456 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 457 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 457 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 458 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., 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 Averitt moved that SB 458 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

The chair laid out HB 4762 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 Uresti moved that HB 4762 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 4110 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Uresti moved that HB 4110 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1922 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 Uresti moved that HB 1922 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1741 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Uresti, 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 Averitt moved that HB 1741 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 715 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes 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 Averitt moved that HB 715 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 857 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 Estes moved that HB 857 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senator Seliger assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1786 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that HB 1786 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3543 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, 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 Hegar moved that HB 3543 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 4043 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, 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 Hegar moved that HB 4043 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 472 and recognized Senator Hegar, 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 Uresti moved that HB 472 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2667 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 2667 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2572 and recognized Senator Hegar, 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 Jackson moved that HB 2572 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3306 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Jackson moved that HB 3306 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3435 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Jackson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator Jackson moved that HB 3435 do not pass but that CSHB 3435 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Hegar assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2318 and recognized Senator Jackson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Duncan moved that HB 2318 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2259 and recognized Senator Jackson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

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 Duncan moved that HB 2259, as amended, be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2063 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Duncan moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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 Duncan moved that HB 2063 do not pass but that CSHB 2063 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk