MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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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 Finance was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Paul Bettencourt

 

Senator Larry Taylor

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

Senator Kelly Hancock

 

 

Senator Joan Huffman

 

 

Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

 

Senator Kirk Watson

 

 

Senator Royce West

 

 

Senator John Whitmire

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM. The following business was transacted:

 

Senator Eltife assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 32 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out HB 15 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Eltife, 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 1458 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 HB 1900 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.

 

Resource witnesses answered questions of the members.  The chair announced public testimony on the bill would be heard after other bills were laid out.

 

The chair laid out HB 1841 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 Eltife moved that HB 15 be reported favorably to the 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 4 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute for HB 32; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that HB 32 do not pass but that CSHB 32 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1464 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 1464 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

Senator Nelson 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 2826 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Huffman moved that HB 2826 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, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 3230 and explained the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 3230 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2313 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Garcia, 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 HB 633 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock, 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 HB 2712 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hancock, 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 HB 2844 and recognized Senator Bettencourt, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 2341 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 2731 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out HB 1905 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair brought back to the table HB 1900.

 

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 West submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 15, HB 32, HB 1464, HB 2826 and HB 3230.

 

Senator Kolkhorst submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on HB 15, HB 32, HB 1464 and HB 3230.  She asked to be shown voting nay on HB 2826.  

 

There being no further business, at 10:28 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