MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
8:00 AM
Betty King Committee Room
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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 Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs was held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Senator Charles Perry, Chair |
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None |
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Senator Kelly Hancock, Vice Chair |
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Senator Brian Birdwell |
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Senator César Blanco |
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Senator Roland Gutierrez |
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Senator Adam Hinojosa |
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Senator Nathan Johnson |
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Senator Lois Kolkhorst |
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Senator Kevin Sparks |
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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. There being a quorum present at 8:12 AM, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Blanco, Senator Gutierrez, Senator Hinojosa, Senator Johnson, and Senator Kolkhorst.
The chair laid out SB 2476 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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 chair moved that SB 2476 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 8:04 AM Senator Hancock assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2843 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Perry 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 chair moved that SB 2843 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 8:47 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2885 and recognized the author, Senator Flores, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Flores 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 chair moved that SB 2885 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1359 and recognized the author, Senator Parker, to explain the bill. Senator Birdwell sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Parker 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 chair moved that SB 1359 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:05 AM Senator Birdwell assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2844 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Perry 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 chair moved that SB 2844 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:22 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2801 and recognized the author, Senator Hughes, to explain the bill. Senator Perry 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. The chair moved that SB 2801 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:29 AM Senator Hancock assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2846 and recognized the author, 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 chair moved that SB 2846 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:52 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 2031 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, 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 chair moved that SB 2031 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 2386 and recognized Senator Johnson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Perry sent up a committee substitute. The chair recognized Senator Johnson 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 chair moved that SB 2386 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1285. Senator Kolkhorst moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Kolkhorst moved that SB 1285 do not pass but that CSSB 1285 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1359. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 1359 do not pass but that CSSB 1359 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 Hancock 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 SB 2031. Senator Perry moved that SB 2031 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2386. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 2386 do not pass but that CSSB 2386 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 Hancock 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 SB 2476. Senator Hancock moved that SB 2476 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Hancock 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 SB 2801. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 2801 do not pass but that CSSB 2801 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 Hancock 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 SB 2885. Senator Hancock moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hancock moved that SB 2885 do not pass but that CSSB 2885 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.
At 10:26 AM Senator Hancock assumed the chair.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2843. Senator Perry moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry moved that SB 2843 do not pass but that CSSB 2843 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.
The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2844. Senator Perry moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Perry moved that SB 2844 do not pass but that CSSB 2844 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 Perry 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 SB 2846. Senator Perry moved that SB 2846 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
At 10:29 AM Senator Perry resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 10:31 AM Senator Perry moved that the Committee stand
recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Charles Perry, Chair
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Jayna Grove, Clerk