Transcript Highlights:

• and visible to highway motorists is prohibited within 500 feet of the highway interchange, which is
• consistent with the highway consistent with the highway beautifification<01:25:08.320> act
• and visible to of an interstate highway and visible to highway<01:25:31.120> motorists<01:25:
• Um there are uh federal highway.
• literally predated the highway literally predated the highway beautifification<01:34:21.120>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association.
• Manufacturers design, build, test, and sell UTVs for off-highway use only.
• I represent the Recreational Off Highway Vehicle Association.
• Manufacturer design, build, test, and sell UTVs for off-highway use only.
• I also want to add that from my personal experience, I grew up with off-highway vehicles.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered two bills. The first, CS for SB 88 by Senator Wright, would create a framework for local governments to allow or prohibit utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed roads, define UTV equipment and driver requirements, and make violations noncriminal traffic infractions. An amendment was adopted to correct the insurance requirement to match automobile-style minimums of $10,000 personal injury and $10,000 property damage liability. Testimony on SB 88 was divided. The Florida Justice Association and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association opposed the bill, arguing UTVs are designed for off-road use, do not meet federal safety standards, and could increase crash risk on public roads; Honda’s letter was cited as opposing road use. Supporters, including the sponsor and agencies waiving in support, argued the bill would address an existing loophole, provide insurance and licensing requirements, and help rural users and law enforcement by creating a clear legal pathway. Senators raised concerns about nighttime visibility, taillight spacing, speed limits, and whether the bill should be more restrictive, but the committee ultimately voted to report CS for SB 88 favorably. The committee then heard SB 274 by Senator Arrington, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orange County as Harris Rosen Way in honor of hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. The sponsor and several senators praised Rosen’s business success, philanthropy, and support for education, cancer research, veterans, and the Central Florida community. There was no opposition, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• My other concern is, of course, Highway 9 that runs along the border here.
• If it's a four-lane highway, we're assuming that it's two lanes in each direction.
• This table at the bottom shows our National Highway System and our non-National Highway System.
• So our bridges are divided by the national highway system, non-highway system, and locally owned.
• Again, they are divided by the national highway system, non-highway system, and locally owned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you weren't saying mega highways, mega highway projects.
• <01:24:48.920> Carve highways, mega highway projects.
• Carve highways, mega highway projects.
• highway lanes. highway lanes.
• state get on the highway to go to work. state get on the highway to go to work.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 12, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause. The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom. Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also have highways when we look at preservation.
• Today, of course, I'm just going to focus on highways.
• It's what we call our other highway facilities, and these are our highway slopes, all the slope protection
• or on a stretch of highway.
• This one span over the highway, we actually needed to remove it and replace it.

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also ranked 38th in the nation for our highway performance and cost effectiveness.
• In 2003, the Federal Highway Administration began indexing the cost of construction.
• Take, for example, the Border Highway Connector Project that I talked about.
• you go from Highway 68 over to High Street.
• Highway 84 goes up to Chama, and Highway 68 goes up to Taos.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm doing here today by Colonel Gary L has the second of the Florida Highway Patrol.
• Just a brief overview of the Florida Highway Patrol to historic agency started in 1939.
• They're not going to allow bad actors to take of our highways in our local roadways.
• And that is the value I believe of the Florida Highway Patrol.
• So I think that puts us in a purse that position where we interact very well with the highway patrol.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• here today with Undersecretary of Transportation Policy Samantha Silverberg and Undersecretary and Highway
• district offices and the leadership within the Highway Division.
• The cities and towns throughout highway district offices and the leadership within the Highway Division
• And to what extent, what scale is... ...on those highway dollars, or federal dollars?
• The ability also for us to know... ...whether it's a bridge or a highway, that's key.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 4987, the administration’s transportation bond bill centered on Chapter 90 roadway funding and related capital programs. Administration officials described the bill as a roughly $5.5 billion package that would continue $300 million per year for Chapter 90 over four years, with part of the funding distributed by the traditional formula and an additional $100 million based solely on road miles to better support rural and smaller communities. They also highlighted authorizations for municipal pavement work, Shared Streets and Spaces grants, accelerated bridge and pavement repairs, MBTA rail modernization and reliability, housing-related transportation improvements, and a new DCR-focused PRISM program for parkways and related infrastructure. Officials emphasized that the bill is financed through the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues, and said it would help municipalities plan more predictably, speed project delivery, and support housing, safety, and climate goals. Committee members and witnesses discussed the bill’s broader scope beyond traditional Chapter 90, especially the $200 million for transportation projects that support housing development and the $200 million for MBTA modernization and rail reliability. Members asked about the rationale for a four-year authorization amid fiscal uncertainty, federal funding volatility, and the status of commuter rail electrification. Administration officials responded that the capital authorization is backed by dedicated transportation revenues rather than the operating budget, and said multi-year certainty helps cities and towns make better long-term repair decisions. They also said the MBTA’s rail modernization funds would support locomotive procurements, including battery-electric and Tier 4 diesel locomotives, as part of a longer-term regional rail and electrification strategy. Municipal officials and regional advocates strongly supported the bill. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, along with town and city officials from Sherborn, Conway, and Yarmouth, said the increased Chapter 90 funding and road-mile-based distribution are especially important for small and rural communities with limited local revenue capacity, and that multi-year funding would let them bundle projects, bid at better prices, and address backlogs more proactively. A Better City and MAPC also supported the bill but urged the committee to treat it like a traditional bond bill by adding policy provisions and considering new transportation revenue tools, such as TNC fee changes, road pricing, parking taxes, and other mechanisms. The committee took no vote during the hearing and adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• we passed, um, uh, or the trunk highway we passed, um, uh, or the trunk highway standards<00:14:
• state aid and one for trunk highways. state aid and one for trunk highways.
• <01:14:10.880> high of MIDOT roads as trunk highways high of MIDOT roads as trunk highways
• or or you know there are trunk highway or or you know there are trunk highway highways<01:14:18.960
• through and it could be a trunk highway through and it could be a trunk highway and<01:26:27.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is. 40,000 people dying on highways every year, and we can do something about it.
• We can operate in the dead of the night and take congestion off your highways. Thank you, Mr.
• Everybody that drives on these highways understands that.
• Our federal highways are part of a federal highway map. and those are village-owned roadways, so we're
• A lot of Lubbock and Texas travelers use that highway. So those are unfunded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why are we taking additional dollars out of the general fund for this highway fund?
• into the highway user trust fund. fund. fund.
• the highway user tax distribution fund. the highway user tax distribution fund.
• <00:27:24.559> user general fund to the um highway user general fund to the um highway user
• the highway user tax distribution fund. the highway user tax distribution fund. uh<00:46:59.839>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one writes: 'I'm writing to you to urge you to oppose any proposal to name a highway after
• Highway naming... ...divisive rhetoric and promotion of hatred.
• and that being a bridge to an existing name that's there, which is the Pastor Highway.
• So we would have the Ed Pastor's Highway would stay there... ...highway.
• So we would have the Ed Pastor's Highway would stay there and align with the principles that we both

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then heard several points of personal privilege introducing guests, including visitors for Disability Day at the Capitol and the pastor who delivered the prayer. The chamber then moved into the Committee of the Whole to consider two bills: SB 1010, relating to historic names and the renaming of Loop 202, and SB 1439, relating to special plates and recycling-related provisions. SB 1010 received a floor amendment clarifying that the underlying freeway segments would retain their existing names, and SB 1439 received a Government Committee amendment before both bills were recommended do pass. On third reading, SB 1010 passed 16-9 with two not voting. Debate centered on whether renaming the entire Loop 202 to honor Charlie Kirk would erase or overshadow existing memorials, especially the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway segment, and whether the bill bypassed the usual geographic naming process. Supporters said the amendment preserved existing segment names and clarified legislative intent; opponents argued the measure politicized highway naming and ignored established procedures. Several senators explained their votes on both sides. SB 1439 then passed 16-12 with two not voting. The bill’s sponsor described it as a tribute to Charlie Kirk, and one senator asked whether the sponsor or affiliated companies had received compensation from a beneficiary organization; the sponsor said no. After both measures were sent to the House, the Senate announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until the next scheduled session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am joined today by my colleague Cassandra Gaskin, Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnership in the Highway
• I'm joined today by my colleague Cassandra Gaskin, Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnership in the Highway
• Also, our highway division works closely with municipal partners to provide the support, guidance, and
• I'm the Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnerships in MassDOT's Highway Division.
• Many of the investments we're here to discuss today directly support the Highway Division, and so it

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a public hearing on H. 5279, a bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. MassDOT and A&F testified in support, describing the bill as a more than $5 billion transportation bond package centered on a four-year, $1.2 billion Chapter 90 authorization, plus funding for MBTA rail reliability and modernization, housing-related transportation improvements, a new DCR/MassDOT PRISM program for parkways and other DCR assets, and reauthorizations of the Municipal Pavement Program, Shared Streets and Spaces, and highway programs. They said the bill would support safety, resilience, housing production, and multimodal transportation, and noted that some bonds could be issued as special obligation bonds backed by the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues. Committee members asked about the size and structure of the authorizations, the federal match for highway projects, the source of MBTA vehicle procurement, bridge repair needs, and whether the housing-related funds could be used flexibly for items like sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, and other local transportation improvements. Administration witnesses said the bill is intended as a temporary refill of existing programs until a larger transportation bond bill is filed next session, that the federal-aid line includes the full spending authority while the state only borrows the 20% match, and that the housing-related program is deliberately broad and not limited to MBTA communities. They also said Chapter 90 includes a road-mile component that especially helps rural communities and that preservation and safety are built into the programs. The Massachusetts Municipal Association also testified in strong support, emphasizing that Chapter 90 is the most important tool municipalities have to maintain the roughly 30,000 miles of local roads and bridges they are responsible for. MMA urged timely passage before construction season and praised the continued $300 million Chapter 90 level, especially the $100 million road-mile distribution that helps communities with large road networks and smaller populations. No votes were taken on the bill, and the hearing concluded with adjournment after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Highway 85.
• So when it comes to Highway 85, we have bid the next two stretches of Highway 85, so Highway 200 to mile
• We still have not done any work on Highway 85 from I-94 to 200.
• It's the last stretch of Highway 49 that we haven't been able to get to.
• Well, this is a highway issue, but Highway 1 project, I've called Mr.

Summary: The Budget Section met to approve prior minutes and receive a series of budget, revenue, and program updates from OMB, the Tax Department, DOT, DMR, and DPI. OMB reported that general fund revenues through May were about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls, though the biennium is still projected to end with a positive balance. OMB also reviewed oil price and production assumptions, the budget stabilization fund transfer above its cap, Legacy Fund performance, federal grant applications, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting that most of the settlement funds had been deposited but a small amount of accrued interest would require a future deficiency request. The committee then considered Emergency Commission requests. It approved requests for Public Service Commission abandoned mine lands federal authority, an Attorney General FTE and related funding for criminal investigator work tied to the Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. After discussion, the committee also approved DPI’s request for a $500,000 transfer for the food vendor program, despite questions about the program’s savings and cash-flow structure. Later, the Tax Commissioner presented the primary residence credit program, reporting that current biennium costs are expected to exceed the appropriation by about $22 million and explaining how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran credits and the 3% property tax levy cap. The Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board reported strong returns for both funds, and DOT sought and received approval for two flexible fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. DOT also updated members on Highway 85 construction and said remaining flex fund dollars were essentially fully allocated. DMR reported on the abandoned well plugging and site reclamation fund, noting North Dakota’s relatively small orphan well inventory, current and projected fund balances, rising remediation costs, and a possible need to adjust the fund cap in future sessions. Finally, DPI outlined the new integrated formula gap funding program, explaining that it compensates school districts that cannot reach the assumed 60-mill local contribution because of the 3% levy cap; the first year’s gap funding totaled about $1.8 million, with future costs expected to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• General and puts it in trunk Highway General and puts it in trunk Highway funds<00:02:18.920>
• the active highway.
• that actually is along highways um and that actually is along highways um and so<00:14:09.360> the
• I remember the $22.5 million, and that came out of trunk highway funds.
• Thank you. trunk Highway trunk Highway funds<00:27:13.840> Mr<00:27:14.240> chair<00:27

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 75, a pilot project to test autonomous or semi-autonomous mowing and vegetation management along state highways. Senator Jasinski said the bill is intended to reduce traffic delays caused by ditch mowing and improve worker safety by moving crews out of active traffic. An A1 amendment was adopted to shift the funding source from the general fund to trunk highway funds. Testifiers from Bot Crew described robotic mowing technology, including remote piloting, autonomous navigation using LiDAR, cameras, GIS data, and obstacle detection, and said the machines could work at night and potentially reduce labor needs while improving safety. Members asked about mowing around guardrails, bridge features, and sensitive plants; the company said the system could be programmed to identify and avoid certain vegetation and could also be used for seeding. The committee then approved the bill, as amended, and re-referred it to finance. The committee next received the Department of Public Safety’s presentation on the governor’s budget request. Commissioner Bob Jacobson outlined an operating adjustment for DPS divisions, a request for grant administration authority to allow a portion of grant funds to cover oversight costs, and then turned to division-specific items. State Patrol Colonel Christina Bovich presented a request for $48.5 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for a new metro headquarters, plus a recruitment proposal that would provide $1 million in each of 2026 and 2027 and $10 million in later years to expand recruiting, advertising, and academy capacity. She also proposed a change to the excessive-speed penalty so that driving more than 35 miles per hour over the limit would trigger a six-month license revocation, regardless of the posted speed zone. Members questioned the headquarters funding source, the cost of recruitment efforts, and academy expenses; Bovich said the academy costs about $350,000 per person and that the recruitment request would support broader outreach, including nationwide recruiting. Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hansen then presented a request for an additional $485,000 per year in trunk highway funds for planning and administration. He said the money is needed to cover rising operating costs, maintain the federal match for traffic safety grants, and support new federal public participation and engagement requirements tied to traffic safety funding. No votes were taken on the DPS budget items during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:20:36.679> so are also deemed termed as highways so are also deemed termed as highways
• and what our purposes of our highways are.
• and what our purposes of our highways are.
• and what our purposes of our highways are.
• of our highways are.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're different from your highway funds, which is the tolls or the gas tax.
• The highway fund is the road toll, which is also the gas tax.
• <00:16:02.240> funds trust funds a lot of Highway funds trust funds a lot of Highway funds
• they're different from your Highway they're different from your Highway funds<00:16:32.519> which
• There's been a lot of one-time fixes, so to speak, of the Highway Fund over the years, whether it's,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory House Finance Division Two session focused on committee procedures, staffing, and the upcoming budget process. Mickey Landrian, the division analyst, introduced himself and explained that the subcommittee operates more informally than the full committee, does not hold executive sessions or public hearings itself, and makes recommendations back to House Finance. Members were told that public hearings on legislation occur in the full committee, while Division Two will hold work sessions and vote on recommendations such as ought to pass, retain, or ITL. The chair also welcomed new members and a new clerk, and noted that meetings will be recorded and streamed, with microphones required for audio capture. A substantial portion of the meeting covered the division’s workload and schedule. Landrian outlined the agencies assigned to Division Two, including Safety, Fish and Game, Transportation, Education, the Lottery Commission, Police Standards and Training, the University System, and the Community College System. He explained the different fund types the division will handle, especially Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund, and reviewed reference materials distributed to members, including agency budget requests, prior recommendation tracking sheets, and surplus statements. He emphasized that the agency budget requests and related handouts are available online and useful for members to review before budget work begins. Members discussed the compressed timeline for the session, with a target date of March 26 for completing Division Two recommendations. Landrian said only a few bills had been referred to Finance so far, none yet to Division Two, but that more bills and amendments were expected, including many amendments to House Bill 2. He noted that the committee would need to move efficiently and frontload meetings. Representative Papich added that Fish and Game may require closer scrutiny than in prior years because of its push for direct general fund appropriations, and members also discussed the importance of getting preliminary budget documents before the governor’s budget is finalized. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond the procedural overview and distribution of materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4425 renames a portion of Highway 281 to the McElroy Memorial Highway.
• Lauren and her children, Judson and Lindsey McElroy, were traveling on Highway 281 during Thanksgiving
• The Memorial Highway would mean... ...a ton to Fort Worth, to the McElroy family, to my family, and to
• Part of Bill 4429 to name a portion of Highway 281 as the McElroy Memorial Highway.
• A reminder to people that every person in a vehicle on Texas highways is someone's entire world.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• :55.680> that a state highway in your community that a state highway in your community that limits
• can't drive here it's a state highway can't drive here it's a state highway you're<00:04:40.400>
• goes<00:05:08.440> right State Highway 169 Highway one goes right State Highway 169 Highway
• <00:07:38.680> are 30 to 45 m per hour trunk highways are 30 to 45 m per hour trunk highways
• It's on trailers, but it goes down Highway 48 into Wisconsin.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The highway down, I would say, maybe about half a mile.
• And those are the basic areas, like Highway 491.
• I would say right now that the highway that travels through here, a four-lane divided highway.
• I'm glad to see a four-lane highway through.
• It's good to see a county sheriff traveling the highway.