MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER & RURAL AFFAIRS

Monday, March 25, 2019

3:30 PM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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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 Water & Rural Affairs was held on Monday, March 25, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Charles Perry, Chair

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Carol Alvarado

 

 

Senator Nathan Johnson

 

 

Senator José Rodríguez

 

 

Senator Larry Taylor

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called:

Senator Nathan Johnson

Senator Larry Taylor

 

The chair laid out SB 606 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Creighton sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

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 606 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 4:01 PM Senator Rodríguez assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 700 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Johnson sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 700 be adopted; 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 Rodríguez moved that CSSB 700 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 625 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Johnson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 625 be adopted; 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 Rodríguez moved that CSSB 625 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 626 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Johnson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 626 be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Taylor sent up committee amendment #1 and was recognized to explain the amendment.

Senator Taylor moved to withdraw committee amendment #1.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Taylor sent up committee amendment #2 and was recognized to explain it, in the absence of the author, Senator Kolkhorst.

Senator Taylor moved to withdraw committee amendment #2.   There being no 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 Rodríguez moved that CSSB 626 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 627 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Johnson sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 627 be adopted; 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 Rodríguez moved that CSSB 627 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 407 and recognized the author, Senator Birdwell, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Johnson sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 407 be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

At 4:43 PM Senator Johnson assumed the chair.

 

At 4:45 PM Senator Rodríguez resumed the chair.

 

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

 

Senator Rodríguez moved that CSSB 407 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 4:48 PM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1574 and recognized the author, Senator Alvarado, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Rodríguez moved that SB 1574 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 4:50 PM Senator Rodríguez assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1010 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

 

Senator Johnson moved that the committee substitute for SB 1010 be adopted; 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 Rodríguez moved that CSSB 1010 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew CSSB 810 by Senator Perry and recognized the author for a motion.

Senator Perry moved to reconsider the vote by which the committee substitute for SB 810 was adopted during the March 18 hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Perry moved to withdraw the committee substitute sent up during the March 18 hearing; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Perry sent up a new committee substitute. The Chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the new committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.

Senator Johnson moved adoption of the new committee substitute for SB 810; without objection, it was so ordered.

Public testimony on the senate bill was heard at the March 18 hearing and remained closed.

Senator Perry moved that SB 810 do not pass but that the new committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Alvarado submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 810; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator Perry moved that CSSB 810 be placed on the local and uncontested calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 1010.

Senator Perry moved that SB 1010 do not pass but that CSSB 1010 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. Senator Alvarado submitted a motion in writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 1010; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 5:24 PM Senator Perry resumed the chair.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 625.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 625 do not pass but that CSSB 625 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 626.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 626 do not pass but that CSSB 626 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 627.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 627 do not pass but that CSSB 627 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 407.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 407 do not pass but that CSSB 407 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

Senator Creighton moved that CSSB 407 be placed on the local and uncontested calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 700.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 700 do not pass but that CSSB 700 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out anew SB 1574.

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1574 do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.

 

Senator Creighton moved that SB 1574 be placed on the local and uncontested calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 5:29 PM Senator Perry moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Senator Charles Perry, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Leah Curren, Clerk