MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kevin Eltife, Chair		None
Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Don Huffines
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator John Whitmire

 

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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 Brandon Creighton

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator John Whitmire

 

The chair laid out SB 481 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 Eltife moved that SB 481 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 94 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 Eltife moved that SB 94 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 332 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Schwertner sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Schwertner to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Eltife 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 Eltife moved that SB 332 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 425 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Eltife moved that SB 425 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 670 and recognized Senator Huffines, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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 Eltife moved that SB 670 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 880 and recognized Senator Huffines, 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 Eltife moved that SB 880 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Huffines assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 540 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 540 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 572 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 572 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 875 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 875 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 899 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 899 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 543 and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 543 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1077 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, 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 Huffines moved that SB 1077 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1264 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, 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 Huffines moved that SB 1264 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1176 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife 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 Huffines moved that SB 1176 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 979 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses 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 Huffines moved that SB 979 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Eltife resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 10:21 AM Senator Huffines moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Pursuant to a motion made on the Senate floor by Senator Eltife to suspend Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce reconvened in E1.028

 

At 1:04 PM Senator Eltife reconvened the meeting. 

 

Senator Huffines moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 17, 2015; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 188.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 188 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion failed to be carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 844.

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 844 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. Senators Taylor and Seliger submitted motions in writing voting aye.

 

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

 

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 901.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 901 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. Senators Taylor and Seliger submitted motions in writing voting aye.

 

Senator Eltife 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 876.

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 876 do not pass but that CSSB 876 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 Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

Senator Eltife 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 858.

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 858 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. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

 

Senator Eltife 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 667.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 667 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. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

Senator Eltife 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 699.

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 699 do not pass but that CSSB 699 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 Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 782.

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 782 do not pass but that CSSB 782 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 Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

Senator Eltife 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 783.

 

Senator Huffines moved that SB 783 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. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

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

 

Senator Eltife resumed the chair.

 

The chair recognized Senator Watson’s motion to call back up SB 188. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, 2 absent.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 188 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 189 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 189 do not pass but that CSSB 189 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Taylor submitted a motion in writing voting aye.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s):

 

SB 1386

SB 705

 

There being no further business, at 1:16 PM Senator Eltife moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kevin Eltife, Chair

 

 

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Brady Faglie, Clerk