MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 18, 2019

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

*****

 

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, March 18, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

Senator Joan Huffman

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Peter Flores

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Charles Perry

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

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:

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 70 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1214 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 left pending.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 890 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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 68 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, 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 Nelson moved that SB 68 be reported favorably 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 resumed the chair.

The chair laid out SB 26 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.  Senator Kolkhorst moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SJR 24 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.  Senator Kolkhorst moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 26 and SJR 24 are shown on the attached list.

 

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

 

Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 26 do not pass but that CSSB 26 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 Kolkhorst moved that SJR 24 do not pass but that CSSJR 24 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.

 

The chair laid out SB 687 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, 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 Perry moved that SB 687 be reported favorably 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 Perry moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1273 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.  Senator Bettencourt 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 Bettencourt moved that SB 1273 do not pass but that CSSB 1273 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 Bettencourt moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 68.

 

Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 1273.

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 687 and SB 1273.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 26, SB 68, SB 687 and SJR 24. 

 

There being no further business, at 11:50 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk