MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Sunday, May 25, 2025

1:00 PM

Senate Chamber

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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 State Affairs was held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the Senate Chamber.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bryan Hughes, Chair	Senator Tan Parker
Senator Angela Paxton, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Bob Hall
Senator Adam Hinojosa
Senator Mayes Middleton
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Judith Zaffirini

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:06 PM.

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Bettencourt, Senator Birdwell, Senator Hall, Senator Middleton, and Senator Schwertner.

Upon the arrival of Senator Hall a quorum was present. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out HB 783 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Juan Hinojosa, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Hughes moved that HB 783 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3385 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock. Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Hancock to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. Senator Hughes moved that HB 3385 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4449 and recognized Senator Hall, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Hughes moved that HB 4449 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 220 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator Hughes sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 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 Hughes moved that HB 220 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 2240 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill. Witnesses 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 Hughes moved that HB 2240 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4202 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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. Senator Hughes moved that HB 4202 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 4904 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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. Senator Hughes moved that HB 4904 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out HB 3336 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Middleton, 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 Hughes moved that HB 3336 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3385 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock. Senator Schwertner moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 3385 do not pass but that CSHB 3385 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion failed with a record vote of 4 ayes, 5 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 783 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Juan Hinojosa. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 783 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 2240 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 2240 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3336 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Middleton. Senator Middleton moved that HB 3336 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4202 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 4202 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 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.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4449 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Sparks. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 4449 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 4904 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 4904 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Paxton moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

At 2:46 PM Senator Hughes moved that the Committee stand recessed until 4:40 PM. Without objection, it was so ordered. 

At 4:49 PM Senator Hughes reconvened the meeting.

The chair laid out HB 3441 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hall, 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 Hall moved that HB 3441 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3385 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock. Senator Hughes moved to reconsider the vote by which HB 3385 previously failed to pass; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Schwertner moved that HB 3385 do not pass but that CSHB 3385 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

There being no further business, at 5:09 PM Senator Hughes moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Bryan Hughes, Chair

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Victoria Ross, Clerk