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April 8, 2011 |
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House Holds Hearing on State Breach of Contract The House State Affairs Committee held a hearing this past week on HB 1041 by Representative Paul Workman. This is a top bill for AGC Texas Building Branch that deals with the issue of breaches of contract by state government and its use of sovereign immunity. AGC Chairman Tom Vaughn and Legislative Co-Chairman Steve Nelson testified on behalf of AGC. Testimony was also provided by the Texas Construction Association and ABC of Texas. The Committee was very interested in the issue and asked pertinent questions. Representative Workman and AGC will continue to work with committee members to seek passage of the bill by the Committee.
The
Senate version of the legislation – SB 562 by Senator Wentworth is in the
Senate State Affairs Committee and has not been scheduled for a hearing to
date. |
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Senate Committee Passes P3 Legislation-House Committee Holds Two Hearings on Legislation The Senate Economic Development Committee passed out a Committee Substitute for SB 1048 by Senator Mike Jackson, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee. The Senate version of the bill will move to the Texas Senate for consideration.
The House Economic and Small Business Development Committee held
hearings on HB 2432 by Chairman John Davis both last week and again this
week. The first hearing was pushed up by a day when it became apparent
that House Committees would not be able to hold meetings last week due
to the House floor schedule. Rodney Moss with Balfour Beatty
Construction testified in favor of the legislation a week ago on March
30th. Corbin Van Arsdale testified for AGC Texas Building
Branch on the bill also on March 30th. The hearing on this
legislation was originally posted for the morning of March 31st,
but the House voted on March 30th to cancel its hearings
scheduled for that day. The rules were suspended and Chairman Davis
announced that the bill would be heard later in the day upon adjournment
of the House. AGC asked Chairman Davis to repost the bill for a hearing
the week of April 4th in order to accommodate those AGC
members from out of town who had planned to testify on March 31st.
The bill was reposted and heard again in Committee last night. The
Committee started its hearing at 8 AM yesterday and recessed at 10 AM so
the House could go into Session. The Committee reconvened at 6 PM last
night and heard testimony on the bill again with Chairman John Davis
rolling out a committee substitute for HB 2432. Dick Lindsay from
Satterfield and Pontikes testified for the bill. There have been
numerous conversations regarding the legislation, with AGC staff working
with the legislative offices of the bill sponsors as well as the other
interested parties. There were a couple of people who showed up in
opposition to the legislation last night for the first time. At the end
of the evening, HB 2432 was left in Committee as pending business. |
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Senate Education Committee Passes School Background Check Legislation
The Senate Education Committee held a hearing on SB 1042 by Senator Hegar.
This bill will clean up the state law regarding school background checks.
The bill is now headed to the Texas Senate for their consideration. The
House version of this bill HB 398 has had its hearing and is still in the
House Public Education Committee as pending business. |
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House Insurance Committee to
Hold Hearing on Indemnification Bill
HB 2010 by Chairman Smithee (TCA/AGC Indemnification legislation) will be
heard in Chairman Smithee’s House Insurance Committee next Tuesday (April 12th).
The Senate version of the bill (SB 361) has been referred to the Committee.
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Update on Other AGC Bills HB 628 by Representative Callegari – Alternative Delivery Methods – a committee substitute has been worked out with several interested groups and the committee is expected to consider the bill again next week.
HB 958 by Representative Workman – Statute of Repose – this bill is still in
the House Business & Industry Committee. Representative Workman has visited
with the opposition groups on their concerns and said he is working on a
committee substitute. |
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Other Bills of Interest HB 800 by Representative “Doc” Anderson – Interlocal Co-ops & Roofing Contracts – was heard yesterday in the House Government Efficiency & Reform Committee. It would ban the use of an Interlocal contract for the purchase of roofing construction services. The bill is pending in the committee. HB 1390 by Representative Deshotel deals with retainage notices has been passed by the House Business & Industry Committee and is now in the Calendars Committee. HB 1860 by Representative Deshotel, which deals with liens for removables is still in the House Business & Industry Committee as pending business.
HB 1987
by Representative Workman – HB 1739 by Representative Walle – SB 938 by
Senator Lucio – Mandatory Workers Comp for Construction – These bills have
not been set for a committee hearing. |
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Texas House Passes $164.5 Billion Budget Bill The House has finished with its proposed budget for the next two years. The end result is a budget that at $164.5 Billion will be 12.3% smaller than the current budget. It was passed late last week on a 98 to 49 vote that fell mostly along the party lines. The ball is now in the Senate’s court. The conversations in the Senate have generally been about a budget number that is a bit higher than what the House has sent them. At this time, there are efforts under way in the Senate to try to identify sources that could help raise additional revenue for the lawmakers without increasing taxes.
The
House did pass a supplemental spending bill that will take care of the
current projected $4.3 Billion shortfall on the current budget by making
budget cuts and using money from the rainy day fund. |
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Here Come the Maps
It is almost the middle of April and the maps are on the way to their
debut. You will be reading a lot in the next few weeks about the U.S.
Congressional maps including the addition of 4 more Texas congressional
districts. The Texas Senate and House maps discussion will reflect the
continuing population shift in Texas from the rural areas to the urban
areas. This is the time when legislators can easily lose their focus on
other issues while being consumed by what their new district is going to
look like. |
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AGC Web Site Has Legislative Information
Don’t forget that the AGC TBB website –
www.agctbb.org has information about bills that are being followed by
AGC. The state’s Texas Legislature Online website -
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ is another good source for AGC members
to keep track of all the issues that the 82nd Texas Legislature
is dealing with this session |