MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

8:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Kim Brimer

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

None

 

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 462 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 462 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 556 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 556 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 308 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 308 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2174 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Janek, 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 Averitt moved that HB 2174 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 147 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, 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 Averitt moved that HB 147 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3776 and recognized Senator Seliger, 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 Averitt moved that HB 3776 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3011 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized  to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

Senator Jackson sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Jackson requested unanimous consent to incorporate amendments into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Jackson then moved that the new committee substitute 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 Averitt moved that HB 3011 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1498 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized  to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Eltife moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 1498 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1679 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 1679 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2983 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, 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 Averitt moved that HB 2983 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2984 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 2984 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2910 and recognized Senator Seliger, 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 Averitt moved that HB 2910 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 149 and recognized Senator Jackson, 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 Averitt moved that HB 149 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Brimer assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3554 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized  to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 3554 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2541 and recognized Senator Hegar, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 2541 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2072 and recognized Senator Jackson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 2072 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2444 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 2444 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Following the adjournment of the full Senate and a suspension of the posting rules by Senator Averitt, the committee reconvened at Senator Averitt's desk on the Senate floor.

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1676 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  A committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing. 

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 1676 do not pass but that CSSB 1676 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

The chair laid out HB 147. 

 

Senator Seliger moved that HB 147 do not pass but that CSHB 147 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 149. 

 

Senator Estes moved that HB 149 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 308. 

 

Senator Estes moved that HB 308 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 462

 

Senator Brimer moved that HB 462 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 556. 

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 556 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 891. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that HB 891 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1498. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that HB 1498 do not pass but that CSHB 1498 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1679. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that HB 1679 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2072.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 2072 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2174.   

 

Senator Uresti moved that HB 2174 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2444. 

 

Senator Jackson moved that HB 2444 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2910.

 

Senator Brimer moved that HB 2910 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2983.

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 2983 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3011. 

 

Senator Jackson moved that HB 3011 do not pass but that CSHB 3011 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2984.

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 2984 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk