MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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 Finance was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair		None
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Carlos Uresti
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 217 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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 bill was left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

The chair laid out SB 1452 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Bettencourt 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 bill was left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.

 

At 9:52 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 2:02 PM the Committee reconvened.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The Legislative Budget Board gave an overview on the Summary of Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 1.

 

Senator Nelson moved that HB 1 do not pass but that CSHB 1 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 1452; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt moved that SB 1452 do not pass but that CSSB 1452 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB 217; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 217 do not pass but that CSSB 217 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 281 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 918 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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 Nichols moved that SB 918 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 50 and recognized Senator Watson, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1366 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1366 do not pass but that CSSB 1366 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Nelson called back SB 281.

 

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 bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1394 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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. Senator Hancock 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1420 and recognized the author, Senator Hancock, 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 bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1739 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1013 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Bettencourt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Bettencourt 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 bill was left pending.

 

Senator Seliger submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1366.

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 217, SB 918, SB 1366 and SB 1452.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 217, SB 918, SB 1366 and SB 1452.

 

Senator Huffman submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 217, SB 918, SB 1366, SB 1452.

 

There being no further business, at 3:44 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk