MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, April 3, 2017

10:00 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 Monday, April 3, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair		Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Kelly Hancock
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 10:03 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 1120 and recognized the author, 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 bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 446 and recognized the author, Senator Burton, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Burton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson 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 1767 and recognized the author, Senator Buckingham, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Buckingham to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 806 and recognized the author, Senator Creighton, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

No witnesses provided oral testimony or submitted witness cards for SB 806.

 

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 1275 and recognized the author, Senator Taylor, Van, 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 298 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1390 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1345 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1543 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SJR 52 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1543 are shown on the attached list.

 

No witnesses provided oral testimony or submitted witness cards for SJR 52.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed on SB 1543 and SJR 52; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

SB 1543 and SJR 52 were left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1923 and recognized the author, Senator Schwertner, 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1008 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

The chair laid out SJR 41 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute to SJR 41.  The chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1008 and SJR 41 are shown on the attached list.

 

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

 

SB 1008 and SJR 41 were left pending.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 298 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 recommended that SB 298 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator West moved that SB 1120 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 recommended that SB 1120 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 1345 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 Hinojosa moved that SB 1390 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 recommended that SB 1390 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1767 do not pass but that CSSB 1767 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Schwertner moved that SB 1923 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 Watson moved that SB 275 do not pass but that CSSB 275 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, 5 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 518 sent up at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Whitmire moved that SB 518 do not pass but that CSSB 518 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1006 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 recommended that SB 1006 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 298, SB 1120, SB 1345, SB 1390, SB 1767, SB 1923 and SB 1006.  Senator Kolkhorst asked to be shown voting nay on SB 518 and SB 275.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 298, SB 1120 and SB 1345.

 

There being no further business, at 12:50 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