MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Thursday, April 27, 2017

9:00 AM

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 Thursday, April 27, 2017, in the Senate Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

None

Senator Bryan Hughes, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brian Birdwell

 

 

Senator Brandon Creighton

 

 

Senator Craig Estes

 

 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

 

 

Senator Jane Nelson

 

 

Senator Charles Schwertner

 

 

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

 

 

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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 SB 323 and recognized the author, 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 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 Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 323 do not pass but that CSSB 323 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 CSSB 1893.

 

Senator Birdwell withdrew CSSB 1893 and sent up a new committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Birdwell to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. Senator Birdwell moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1893 do not pass but that CSSB 1893 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting nay; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 322 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 322 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Creighton requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 685 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Huffman moved that SB 685 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2054 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 2054 do not pass but that CSSB 2054 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Birdwell requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Estes requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1394 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hughes sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Hughes 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 Huffman moved that SB 1394 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1938 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Hughes moved 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 Huffman moved that SB 1938 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1559 and recognized Senator Zaffirini, in the absence of the author, 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 Zaffirini moved 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 1559 do not pass but that CSSB 1559 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Estes requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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 SB 459 and recognized the author, Senator Huffines, 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 459 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 10:25 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

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Senator Joan Huffman, Chair

 

 

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Addison Reagan, Clerk