Minutes — Senate Committee on Business & Commerce (October 1, 2024)

Summary

Minutes of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce public hearing on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Austin, Texas. Senator Charles Schwertner, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM, and Senator Creighton, Senator Kolkhorst and Senator Menéndez arrived after the roll was called. The Chair laid out interim charges titled Innovative Power Generation, Managing Texas Sized Growth, Addressing the Rising Cost of Insurance and Non-Compete Agreements. Senator King moved at 5:26 PM that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair.

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MINUTES

SENATE
COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday,
October 1, 2024

9:00
AM

Capitol
Extension, Room E1.028

*****

Pursuant to a notice
posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the
Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, October 1,
2024, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

*****

MEMBERS PRESENT: | MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles
 Schwertner, Chair | Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Phil King, Vice
 Chair | Senator Nathan Johnson
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Brandon
 Creighton
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Mayes Middleton
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Judith
 Zaffirini

*****

The Chair called the
meeting to order at 9:04 AM. There being a quorum present, the following
business was transacted:

The following members
arrived after the roll was called: Senator Creighton, Senator Kolkhorst, and
Senator Menéndez.

The Chair laid out the
following interim charges and opened invited testimony (see attached witness
list) for discussion:

Innovative Power
Generation: Explore emerging technologies with the potential to add new
dispatchable power to our electric grid including, but not limited, to small
modular nuclear reactors, advanced batteries, and new developments in hydrogen
and geothermal resources. Identify and recommend regulatory and policy actions
required to deploy emerging technologies within the state's electric grid.

Senator King assumed the
chair.

Senator Schwertner
resumed the chair.

Managing Texas Sized
Growth: Evaluate the state's ability to keep pace with increasing electricity
demand related to population growth and energy intensive technologies such as
electric vehicles and data centers. Recommend ways to increase reliability via
demand-side response programs. Study ERCOT's forecasting methodology and
recommend ways to increase transparency. Monitor ongoing efforts at the Public
Utility Commission related to energy efficiency programs and distributed energy
resources, including the implementation of Senate Bill 1699, 88th Legislature.

Addressing the Rising
Cost of Insurance: Assess the impact of rising property and casualty insurance
costs on Texas property owners, real estate lenders, and commercial and
industrial development. Identify ways to increase consumer transparency to
better inform coverage decisions and make recommendations to ensure a
competitive and affordable insurance market for consumers.

Senator King assumed the
chair.

Senator Schwertner
resumed the chair.

Non-Compete Agreements: Examine
the impact of the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule on non-compete
agreements on Texas employers including, but not limited to, contractual
exceptions and limitations on independent contractors, for-profit and
non-profit businesses, and senior executives. Identify ways to address
balancing legitimate business interests of employers while also protecting
employment mobility, increasing innovation, and fostering new business
formation. Report on whether any changes should be made to existing law on the
criteria, procedures, and remedies on enforcing non-compete and alternative
agreements.

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.

There being no further
business, at 5:26 PM Senator King moved that the Committee stand recessed
subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

__________________________________________

Senator Charles
Schwertner, Chair

__________________________________________

Daniela Velez-Blanc,
Clerk

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