MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

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, April 3, 2019, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair		None
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Peter Flores
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Perry
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Nelson laid out the Committee’s final recommendations for the committee substitute to HB 1, including rider 2, High-speed Rail, in the Article VII packet. 

Senator Nelson addressed Senator West’s point of order made on March 28, 2019 regarding rider 2, High-speed Rail, in the Article VII packet.  Senator Nelson respectfully overruled the point of order. 

 

Senator West disagreed with the ruling and asked that it be reflected in the record.

 

Senator West moved to sever rider 44 in the committee substitute to HB 1, located on page VII-30 and replace it with the introduced version of the rider.

 

Senator West withdrew his motion.

 

Senator West moved to strike rider 44 in the committee substitute to HB 1, located on page VII-30. The motion failed with a record vote of 7 ayes, 8 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair recognized Senator Nelson on HB 1. Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Nelson to explain the committee substitute. Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that HB 1 do not pass but that CSHB 1 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be not printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 962 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Nichols 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 Nichols 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1138 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1571 and recognized the author, Senator Campbell, 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 SB 1891 and recognized the author, 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 temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1692 and recognized the author, Senator Fallon, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Fallon 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.

 

The bill was left pending.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 69 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1067 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.

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1214 and recognized Senator Birdwell, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.

 

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

 

The bill was temporarily left pending.

 

At 10:16 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed until 10:40 AM. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Committee reconvened at 10:44 AM.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 962 do not pass but that CSSB 962 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 1067; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 1067 do not pass but that CSSB 1067 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Nelson recommended that CSSB 1067 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

Senator Campbell moved that SB 1571 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

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

 

Senator Hancock moved that SB 1891 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, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Birdwell moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 1214; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Birdwell moved that SB 1214 do not pass but that CSSB 1214 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 to SB 69; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 69 do not pass but that CSSB 69 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Nelson recommended that CSSB 69 be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar.

 

Senator Bettencourt submitted a motion in writing asking to be shown voting aye on SB 69, SB 1067, SB 1214, SB 1571 and SB 1891. 

 

There being no further business, at 10:56 AM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk