Senate Committee on Finance
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 79th Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
Steve Ogden
VICE-CHAIR
Judith Zaffirini
MEMBERS
Kip Averitt
Kim Brimer
Bob Deuell
Robert Duncan
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Kyle Janek
Jane Nelson
Florence Shapiro
Todd Staples
Royce West
John Whitmire
Tommy Williams
CLERK:
Amy Jeter
TEL:
(512) 463-0370
LOCATION:
Capitol Extension, E1.036
Video/Audio — Archives
79th Session Interim
- November 14, 2006
- November 13, 2006
- October 31, 2006
- October 30, 2006
- October 24, 2006
- October 23, 2006
- October 17, 2006 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Finance & Senate Committee on Education
- October 16, 2006
- October 10, 2006
- October 9, 2006
- October 3, 2006
- October 2, 2006
- September 26, 2006
- September 25, 2006
- September 19, 2006
- September 14, 2006 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Finance & Subcommittee on Higher Education
- September 13, 2006
- March 15, 2006 — Testimony regarding sales and use taxes in Texas
- March 1, 2006 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security
- February 22, 2006 — Meeting to review health care funding regarding Medicaid, Medicare Part D, hospital reimbursements, and trauma and indigent care.
- February 1, 2006 — State Auditor's Office (SAO) Reports
- January 18, 2006 — Senate Finance Committee organizational business, testimony on Medicaid fraud, and State Auditor's Office (SAO) Article II Agency Reports; January 18, 2006
- November 17, 2005 — Road meeting in Beaumont, TX to discuss effects of hurricanes Rita & Katrina
79th 3rd Called Session
- May 14, 2006
- May 12, 2006
- May 11, 2006
- May 9, 2006
- May 5, 2006 (Part III)
- May 5, 2006 (Part II)
- May 5, 2006 (Part I)
- May 4, 2006 (Part II)
- May 4, 2006 (Part I)
- May 3, 2006 (Part IV)
- May 3, 2006 (Part III)
- May 3, 2006 (Part II)
- May 3, 2006 (Part I)
- May 1, 2006 (Part II)
- May 1, 2006 (Part I)
- April 28, 2006 (Part IV) — Consideration of House Bills 1-4
- April 28, 2006 (Part III) — Consideration of House Bills 1-4
- April 28, 2006 (Part II) — Consideration of House Bills 1 - 4
- April 28, 2006 (Part I) — Consideration of House Bills 1 - 4 ***AUDIO ONLY
- April 21, 2006 (Part II)
- April 21, 2006 (Part I)
- April 19, 2006
- April 18, 2006
79th 2nd Called Session
79th 1st Called Session
- July 19, 2005 — (Conference Committee on HB 3)
- July 18, 2005 — (Conference Committee on HB 3)
- July 17, 2005
- July 15, 2005 (Part II) — (Conference Committee on HB 3)
- July 15, 2005 (Part I) — (Conference Committee on HB 3)
- July 13, 2005
- July 12, 2005
- July 7, 2005 (Part II)
- July 7, 2005 (Part I)
- July 6, 2005 (Part II)
- July 6, 2005 (Part I)
- June 23, 2005
79th Regular Session
- May 26, 2005 — Conference Committee on HB 3
- May 21, 2005
- May 20, 2005
- May 20, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 19, 2005
- May 19, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 18, 2005 — Conference Committee on HB3
- May 18, 2005
- May 17, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 16, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 12, 2005
- May 12, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 9, 2005
- May 9, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 6, 2005
- May 5, 2005 (Part II)
- May 5, 2005 (Part I)
- May 4, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 3, 2005 (Part II)
- May 3, 2005 (Part I)
- May 3, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- May 2, 2005 (Part II)
- May 2, 2005 (Part I)
- April 29, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 28, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 27, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 26, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 22, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 21, 2005
- April 19, 2005 — Finance Committee (Conference Committee on SB 1)
- April 18, 2005
- April 11, 2005 (Part II)
- April 11, 2005 (Part I)
- April 4, 2005
- March 31, 2005
- March 21, 2005
- March 10, 2005
- March 9, 2005
- March 8, 2005 (Part II)
- March 8, 2005 (Part I)
- March 7, 2005 (Part II)
- March 7, 2005 (Part I)
- March 3, 2005
- March 2, 2005
- March 1, 2005
- February 28, 2005
- February 24, 2005
- February 23, 2005 (Part II)
- February 23, 2005 (Part I)
- February 15, 2005 (Part II)
- February 15, 2005 (Part I)
- February 14, 2005 (Part II)
- February 14, 2005 (Part I)
- February 10, 2005 (Part II)
- February 10, 2005 (Part I)
- February 9, 2005 (Part II)
- February 9, 2005 (Part I)
- February 8, 2005
- February 7, 2005 (Part II)
- February 7, 2005 (Part I)
- February 3, 2005 (Part II)
- February 3, 2005 (Part I)
- February 2, 2005 (Part II)
- February 2, 2005 (Part I)
- February 1, 2005 (Part II)
- February 1, 2005 (Part I)
- January 31, 2005 (Part II)
- January 31, 2005 (Part I) — Due to technical difficulties, the video begins with the hearing approximately 30 minutes already in progress.
Interim Charges
- Review the state's business tax structure and make recommendations for the development of a broad-based business tax that meets the following policy goals: (1) treats business uniformly regardless of organizational form, (2) impose a tax burden that relates to the benefits provided by the state, (3) encourages job growth, (4) provides a revenue stream that grows with the economy, and (5) does not shift the burden of current business taxes to consumers.
- Study the impact of the state and local tax structure on the competitiveness of Texas businesses relative to their counterparts in neighboring states.
- Review findings of the State Auditor's Office and evaluate actions taken by agencies and those remaining unresolved.
- Review health care funding, focusing on the Medicaid program, Medicare Part D, hospital reimbursements and trauma and indigent care.
- Complete a comprehensive review and evaluation of the state budget, including projected revenues and costs and long term implications of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on health care, public and higher education, an criminal justice. Examine the entire budget process, including the establishment of spending limits, performance and accountability measures, and other measures to control spending.
- Study the method through which fees are collected under the Driver's Responsibility Program in order in maximize the amount of money for trauma funding and transportation. Look specifically at collection rates and develop means to enhance them.
- Monitor the implementation of Jail Standards Rider # 2 (S.B. 1, 79th Legislature), and Department of State Health Services Rider # 80 (S.B. 1, 79th Legislature) to ensure effectiveness of mental health screenings, cost savings, and effects on capacity at state and local criminal justice and mental health institutions. Also, monitor the implementation of S.B. 679, 79th Legislature, Regular Session, to determine whether videoconferencing is being used between the state and local criminal justice and the mental health agencies, as well as the courts, and whether cost savings and efficiencies are being realized.
- Study and make recommendations relating to the feasibility and options for capping property appraisal taxes at the state or local level. Review current appraisal practices focusing on standardizing procedures for appraising property located in more than one jurisdiction.
- Determine the number of commercial and consumer transactions, including wire transfers, that occur in Texas. Determine the amount of monies that are sent internationally from Texas. Study the feasibility of creating a pilot program in Harris County that captures a percentage of revenues from such transactions, and request an Opinion from the Attorney General’s Office to pursue these revenues as a potential source for health care funding.
Joint Charge with Senate Education Committee:
- Review and make recommendations that address the state's facility infrastructure needs for public schools, including effective models for state funding as well as efficient methods to ensure responsible use of public tax dollars.
Joint Charge with Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education:
- Monitor changes made during the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, to adjust higher education funding formulas by adopting a cost-based formula matrix. Make recommendations for continuing improvements.
Joint Charges with Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee:
- Review the process by which the Texas Department of Transportation Commission allocates funds to the districts through the Allocation Program. Include a description of all scoring mechanisms used in making allocations of resources and make recommendations for maximizing the use of these funds to meet Legislative objectives.
- Review the process by which the Texas Department of Transportation Commission determines which federal funding sources should be implemented to comply with funding reductions mandated by Congress. Assess the Commission’s options for determining how projects that were to be funded out of these reduced revenue sources will be funded this biennium.
