MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 13, 2023

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 13, 2023, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

Senator Bryan Hughes

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

 

Senator Donna Campbell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Pete Flores

 

 

Senator Bob Hall

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

 

 

Senator Robert Nichols

 

 

Senator Angela Paxton

 

 

Senator Charles Perry

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 10:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 740 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SB 740 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 16 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Huffman resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 266 and SJR 24 and recognized the author, Senator Springer, to explain the bills.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list.

 

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

 

The bills were left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 341 and recognized the author, Senator Springer, 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 675 and recognized the author, Senator Springer, 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 61 and recognized the author, 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 senate bill as filed.  Senator Huffman moved the 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 61 do not pass but that CSSB 61 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 16 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 729 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, 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 Huffman moved that SB 729 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 16 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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.

 

The chair laid out SB 506 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

Senator Campbell submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 740.

 

Senator Creighton submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 740.

 

Senator Hancock submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

Senator Schwertner submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

Senator West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

Senator Whitmire submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 61 and SB 729.

 

There being no further business, at 11:51 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk