Senate Committee on Business & Commerce Minutes, October 1, 2024

Summary

Minutes of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce for Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 9:00 AM, in Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, Austin, Texas, with Senator Charles Schwertner as Chair; called to order at 9:04 AM. The Chair laid out interim charges and opened invited testimony on Innovative Power Generation, Managing Texas Sized Growth, Addressing the Rising Cost of Insurance, and Non-Compete Agreements. The charges are quoted in the minutes, including the Federal Trade Commission's final rule on non-compete agreements. The committee recessed subject to the call of the Chair at 5:26 PM.

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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.
                                                   Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
                                                                                     Minutes
                                                                     Tuesday, October 1, 2024
                                                                                       Page 2

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.
                                               Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
                                                                                 Minutes
                                                                 Tuesday, October 1, 2024
                                                                                   Page 3

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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