MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

*****

 

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, April 25, 2023, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Charles Schwertner, Chair

 

None

Senator Phil King, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Nathan Johnson

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator José Menéndez

 

 

Senator Mayes Middleton

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

*****

 

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 CSSB 114 by Senator Menéndez as a matter of pending business. Senator

Menéndez moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 13, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Menéndez sent up a new committee substitute to SB 114. The Chair recognized Senator Menéndez to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Menéndez moved that SB 114 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 258 by Senator Eckhardt as a matter of pending business. Senator

King moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 13, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator King sent up a new committee substitute to SB 258. The Chair recognized Senator Eckhardt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator King moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator King moved that SB 258 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 365 by Senator Zaffirini as a matter of pending business. Senator Zaffirini

sent up the committee substitute to SB 365. The Chair recognized the author to explain the

difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of

the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 365 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1171 by Senator Perry as a matter of pending business. Senator King

moved that SB 1171 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do

pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not

voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1217 by Senator Middleton as a matter of pending business. Senator

Middleton moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 18, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Middleton sent up a new committee substitute to SB 1217. The Chair recognized Senator Middleton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Middleton moved that SB 1217 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1393 by Senator Middleton as a matter of pending business. Senator

Middleton moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 18, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Middleton sent up a new committee substitute to SB 1393. The Chair recognized Senator Middleton to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Middleton moved that SB 1393 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair recommended that the bill be certified for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1519 by Senator King as a matter of pending business. Senator King

moved that SB 1519 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do

pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not

voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1579 by Senator Bettencourt as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SB 1579 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1712 by Senator Perry as a matter of pending business. The committee

substitute was adopted at a previous hearing. Senator King moved that SB 1712 do not pass but

the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11

ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended

for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1766 by Senator Creighton as a matter of pending business. Senator Creighton moved that SB 1766 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1802 by Senator Springer as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SB 1802 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 2008 by Senator Kolkhorst as a matter of pending business. Senator Kolkhorst sent up the committee substitute to SB 2008. The Chair recognized the author to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 2008 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 2016 by Senator Zaffirini as a matter of pending business. The committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 2016 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 2105 by Senator Johnson as a matter of pending business. Senator

Johnson moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 18, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Johnson sent up a new committee substitute to SB 2105. The Chair recognized Senator Johnson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Johnson moved that SB 2105 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 2250 by Senator Zaffirini as a matter of pending business. The committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing. Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 2250 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 2314 by Senator Hughes as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SB 2314 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator King moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 2358 by Senator Parker as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SB 2358 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator King moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 2453 by Senator Menéndez as a matter of pending business. Senator Menéndez moved that SB 2453 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 2460 by Senator Hall as a matter of pending business. Senator

King moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 18, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator King sent up a new committee substitute to SB 2460. The Chair recognized Senator Hall to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator King moved that SB 2460 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out SCR 4 by Senator Eckhardt as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SCR 4 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out HB 998 by Representative Paul in lieu of CSSB 741 by Senator Middleton as a matter of pending business. Senator Middleton moved that HB 998 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator King assumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 1872 by Senator Schwertner as a matter of pending business. Senator Schwertner sent up the committee substitute to SB 1872. The Chair recognized the author to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Schwertner moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Campbell moved that SB 1872 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Schwertner resumed the chair.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 2110 by Senator Johnson as a matter of pending business. Senator

Johnson moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 13, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Johnson sent up a new committee substitute to SB 2110. The Chair recognized Senator Johnson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. The Chair moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair moved that CSSB 2110 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 9:32 AM, Senator King moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Pursuant to the suspension of the Senate posting rules, Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, and adopted by the Senate, the Chair reconvened the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce at 4:47 PM, at the back rail in the Senate Chamber.

 

The Chair called the meeting to order, a quorum was present.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1268 by Senator Johnson as a matter of pending business. Senator

Johnson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Johnson moved that SB 1268 do not pass but the committee substitute do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1525 by Senator Blanco as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute to SB 1525 was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator King moved to withdraw the previous committee substitute that was considered at the April 18, 2023 Hearing. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair laid out SB 1525 by Senator Blanco as a matter of pending business. Senator King moved that SB 1525 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. The Chair moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the

Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 4:49 PM, the Chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Charles Schwertner, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Annika Vandayar, Clerk