MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, May 11, 2015

9:00 AM

Senate Chamber

 

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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 State Affairs was held on Monday, May 11, 2015, in the Senate Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

None

Senator Rodney Ellis, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Troy Fraser

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 1040 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1040 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 1707 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1707 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1725 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Huffman, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 1725 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business the committee substitute to HB 80.

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 80 do not pass but that CSHB 80 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 826 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ellis, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 826 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1560 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses testified or registered on the bill. 

 

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

 

The chair moved that HB 1560 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2050 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, 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 chair moved that HB 2050 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 3680 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

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.

 

The chair moved that HB 3680 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2900 and recognized Senator Birdwell, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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.

 

The chair moved that HB 2900 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out, as a matter of pending business, SB 1848 and its House Companion, HB 968, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Garcia, to explain HB 968.

 

The chair moved that HB 968 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out, as a matter of pending business, SB 1930 and its House Companion, HB 3003, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Garcia, to explain HB 3003.

 

Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Garcia to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.

 

The chair moved that HB 3003 and the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1500 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

No witnesses registered or testified on the bill.

 

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

 

The chair moved that HB 1500 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2536 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Whitmire, 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 chair moved that HB 2536 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 826.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 826 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 Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 968.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 968 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 Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 1040.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 1040 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 Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 1500.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 1500 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 Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 1560.

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 1560 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 Schwertner requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 2050.

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2050 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 Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 2536.

 

Senator Estes moved that HB 2536 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2900.

 

Senator Creighton moved that HB 2900 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 Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to HB 3003.

 

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

 

Senator Ellis moved that HB 3003 do not pass but that CSHB 3003 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ellis 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 the committee substitute to HB 3680.

 

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

 

Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3680 do not pass but that CSHB 3680 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Ellis assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1707.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 1707 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 Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman 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 1725.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 1725 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 Schwertner and Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 10:45 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

 

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Ashley Brooks, Clerk