Transcript Highlights:

• So members, I hope that we all agree that R&D is very important for driving economic growth in our state
• So members, I hope that we all agree that R&D is very important for driving economic growth in our state
• So members, I hope that we all agree that R&D is very important for driving economic growth in our state
• So if we want to drive growth in Minnesota, we need to drive research and development here.
• So if we want to drive growth in Minnesota, we need to drive research and development here.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even our rural students who are familiar with driving because they've been driving on the farm are
• And we know that those folks may not have the best driving habits themselves.” ...to drive.
• , but I had been driving a tractor for a lot of years when I was ready to drive a car.
• Aggressive driving, distracted driving, speeding, and things like that. Right.
• I've driven and still do drive 18-wheelers, big loads, heavy loads. I drive a normal truck, car.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and took up House Bill 3239, adopting a Hurlbert amendment that capped the program at $4 million and then adopting the House Committee Substitute. The substitute bill passed 11-7. The committee then combined House Bill 2913 and House Bill 3228 into one substitute; members discussed that it would not cover student teachers and was intended to start with the current scope and broaden later. The combined substitute passed unanimously, 19-0. In open session, the committee heard House Bill 2195, which would create a Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program to let DESE vet and distribute safe-driving lesson materials for voluntary use in existing courses starting in 2027-2028. Sponsor Representative Reedy said the bill is intended to improve teen driver safety without a fiscal note. Supporters included AAA Missouri, traffic-safety and motorcycle groups, MoDOT, and the Missouri Insurance Coalition, who cited teen crash and fatality data, the benefits of formal driver education, and the need to address distracted driving, traffic stops, and motorcycle awareness. No one testified in opposition. The committee also heard House Bill 2502, which would clarify how records from closed nonpublic schools and charter schools are transferred and stored so students can later obtain transcripts and graduation records. The sponsor said the bill responds to missing records from closed schools and would direct records to the appropriate public district; a technical correction was noted to avoid including homeschool records. Missouri NEA supported the bill and suggested charter-school performance contracts include compliance expectations. The committee then heard House Bill 2396, which would allow retired teachers to return to PSRS-covered teaching jobs without a time limit, similar to existing critical-shortage provisions. The sponsor argued it would help districts, especially smaller ones, and could benefit teachers and students without harming the retirement system. PSRS/PEERS testified that the bill could raise contribution rates by an estimated 1.44% to 2.45% and raised concerns about behavior changes and IRS qualification issues; Missouri NEA and the Missouri State Teachers Association opposed the bill, saying it would not solve recruitment and retention problems and could damage the retirement system. The Missouri Retired Teachers Association testified for informational purposes, warning that the bill could prompt many eligible teachers to retire sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicle and driving knowing that they probably should not be driving.
• And probably you're not okay to drive.
• I've seen the carnage that impaired driving leaves behind.
• It is proven to reduce impaired driving and save lives.
• Well, that's why we don't have drive-ins anymore, because I know what used to go on at the drive-in when

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The Waymo driver, our automated driving system, drives over 1 million miles on a weekly basis.
• The job of a driver is not just to drive. The work of a driver is not just to drive.
• And then I'm driving, keep driving Uber.
• and Memorial Drive.
• and Memorial Drive.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 46 bills covering bicycle and pedestrian safety, autonomous and specialty vehicles, street design, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate co-chair Brendan Crighton opened the hearing, noted that Senate Bill 2347 was postponed at the sponsor’s request, and explained the hearing procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing. A major portion of testimony focused on autonomous vehicles. Labor representatives from the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Machinists, and app-based driver organizations opposed bills that would authorize fully autonomous vehicles, arguing they could displace workers, weaken bargaining power, increase congestion, and create safety and data-privacy risks. Waymo and Chamber of Progress supported legislation creating a framework for autonomous vehicles, saying the technology has strong safety results and could improve mobility and economic opportunity, but they opposed provisions requiring a human operator in the vehicle. Transportation and environmental advocates urged stronger oversight, local control, crash-data reporting, and privacy protections before deployment. Several bills on pedestrian and bicycle safety drew support from advocates and affected residents. Testimony backed measures to improve crosswalk timing for slower pedestrians, raise penalties for crosswalk violations, expand truck sideguard and safety-device requirements, and improve roadway marking reflectivity. AARP, MassBike, and other advocates emphasized the need to protect older adults, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, while some speakers opposed bills expanding e-bike access to sidewalks and natural-surface trails, citing safety concerns. The committee also heard strong support for the Blue Envelope program for drivers with autism and developmental disabilities, with testimony from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, and individuals describing how the program can reduce misunderstandings during traffic stops and crashes.

Transcript Highlights:

• A remote assistant does not do any of the driving tasks, so they're not performing any of the driving
• A remote assistant does not do any of the driving tasks, so they're not performing any of the driving
• don't drive the vehicle remotely.
• Remote driving is where you would have driving happening.
• I remember the day they started driving.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Henry messed up and I couldn't drive.
• </c><00:17:04.160><c> at</c> that uh results in their driving at that uh results in their driving at
• </c> license suspended very often will drive license suspended very often will drive anyway<00:26:35.679
• . drive. drive.
• ,</c> um so if you're telling me they drive, um so if you're telling me they drive, that's<00:36:48.320

Transcript Highlights:

• People are getting tickets and things as they drive through.
• And things as they drive through.
• Basically, the issue is that it deals with limited driving privileges.
• Basically, the issue is that it deals with limited driving privileges.
• intoxicated aren't driving on the highways, you need to rethink that.

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to talk about impaired driving in Washington.
• 40-mile-an-hour driving zone.
• The person that hit me was driving drunk.
• , but abnormal driving behavior.
• to reduce impaired driving by 20% in the next five years.

Bills: SB5234 , SB6110 , SB6176

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: snowmobile, snowmobile registration, vehicle registration fees, registration fee, Department of Licensing, DOL, recreational vehicles, winter recreation, vintage snowmobile, parks and recreation, vehicle license fee, RCW 46.17, fee schedule, renewal fee, initial fee, Washington state, electric-assisted bicycles, electric motorcycles, transportation regulation, safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's not even from driving under the influence.
• And they did it on impaired driving and the laws on impaired driving.
• Driving while impaired is not an accident. It is a decision.
• He admitted that two people offered to drive him home because they felt he was too intoxicated to drive
• And it looked like he was impaired when he was driving that vehicle.

Committees: House Judiciary , House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for those who are unable to drive for those who are unable to drive themselves<00:10:28.079><c>
• And not driving is a major factor.
• </c> autonomous driving technology company autonomous driving technology company with<00:18:36.720><c
• c><00:19:02.080><c> system,</c> driver, our autonomous driving system, driver, our autonomous driving
• </c> dynamic driving task. dynamic driving task. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:17:22.960><c> you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Collins and this bill is about hands free driving moving from a ban on texting while driving to
• driving.
• driving law.
• we need to treat distracted driving like drunk driving because it is the same selfish behaviour with
• It was because it wasn't a bright line because driving is not driving is a privilege.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> driving backwards and folks see that. driving backwards and folks see that.
• . driving. driving.
• Um, and they drive responsibly. I calls. Um, and they drive responsibly.
• drive.
• drive.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• the influence, driving automation.
• , driving automation.
• It is driving-centric.
• reckless driving and driving over 100 miles an hour.
• reckless driving and driving over 100 miles an hour.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• , Careless driving will be established as a 4th degree felony.
• Over the last couple of years, reckless driving has now passed that.
• attention to driving and engaging in dangerous driving behavior.
• habits or impaired driving.
• With reckless driving, we have to prove that they had a lack of intentional driving behavior.

Transcript Highlights:

• the influence, driving automation.
• , driving automation.
• Sitting in jail, you cannot drive.
• It's their second and third time driving while under the influence or reckless driving, where they're
• It is driving-centric.

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee heard a long agenda of bills, with several authors presenting measures focused on probation, prison conditions, public safety, diversion, and infrastructure theft. Early in the hearing, AB 1816 by Assembly Member Davies proposed allowing courts to extend probation for up to one additional year for people convicted of registrable sex offenses who have not completed required treatment. Supporters, including the Chief Probation Officers of California, argued the bill would improve rehabilitation and public safety by allowing treatment to be completed; opponents, including public defenders and civil liberties groups, said existing revocation tools already address noncompliance and warned the bill was vague and would prolong supervision. The bill was later moved on call with an aye recommendation. The committee also heard AB 2593, which would prohibit non-medical staff from interfering with prescribed care for incarcerated patients; it drew broad support from medical, disability, public defender, and justice reform groups and passed to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including AB 1927 and AB 2502, was adopted without controversy. The committee then considered AB 1538 by Assembly Member Krell, which would bar elected or appointed officials from using political power for retaliation. Support came from a student activist and the California News Publishers Association, with additional support from education, law enforcement, and civil liberties groups; no opposition testimony was offered, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2584 by Assembly Member Flora, as amended, would narrow civil liability for lawful defensive force; supporters framed it as protecting self-defense, while one opposition witness objected on behalf of labor and justice groups. The chair noted concerns about eliminating civil liability but still recommended aye, and the bill passed to Judiciary. AB 2217 by Assembly Member Zbur would rename and expand the LEAD diversion program as “Alternatives to Arrest,” broaden eligible offenses, and continue grant funding for local diversion efforts. Supporters emphasized reduced recidivism and service connections, and the bill was moved on call to Appropriations. Later, the committee took up AB 1941 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez, which would create an organized metal theft offense and a statewide data-sharing system to address copper theft and damage to public infrastructure. Supporters from utilities, cities, transit, telecom, and law enforcement described widespread outages, costly repairs, and public safety risks; opponents argued the bill would deepen criminalization and racial disparities and that non-carceral solutions were preferable. The author and supporters responded that the bill was needed to address repeated thefts that leave communities without lights, power, or 911 service, and the measure passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2499 by Assembly Member Gibson sought stronger protections for incarcerated people and workers from extreme heat and inadequate ventilation in state prisons. The bill was backed by incarcerated workers, family members of a woman who died from heat-related causes, and a wide coalition of public defender, civil rights, and prisoner advocacy groups. Members spoke emotionally about prison conditions and the need for humane treatment, and the bill passed to Labor and Employment with strong support.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to talk I'm here to talk about impaired driving in Washington.
• driving zone.
• The person that hit me was driving drunk.
• , but abnormal driving behavior.
• to reduce impaired driving by 20% in the next five years.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on impaired driving, beginning with data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and a discussion of a proposed reduction in the legal per se blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Mark McKekney presented crash and fatality data showing that about half of traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver, that alcohol remains the most common substance involved, and that impairment is strongly associated with speeding and higher crash risk. He also summarized a Washington/AAA survey finding support for lowering the limit rose from 54% to 71% after respondents received information about safety impacts, and he said the most persuasive arguments were that the change would save lives and reduce impaired driving. Committee members asked about how much alcohol can produce a 0.05 BAC, enforcement practices, blood testing in fatal crashes, and whether other states or countries use lower limits. The committee then heard emotional testimony from Joshua Jackman, who described severe injuries and long-term consequences from being struck by a drunk driver in 2007, and said the proposed law could help prevent similar tragedies by encouraging people to plan ahead. A panel followed with testimony from AAA Washington, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation. AAA supported a 0.05 standard and cited research and international experience showing fewer fatalities and serious injuries without major effects on arrests or the hospitality industry. The State Patrol said the bill is intended to prevent crashes rather than increase arrests and would not change stop standards or DUI investigative practices. WSDOT described the safety, work-zone, congestion, equipment-damage, and liability costs caused by impaired driving, including recent crashes involving snowplows and road crews. No vote was taken on the impaired-driving discussion. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5234, which would raise snowmobile registration fees from $50 to $75 and vintage snowmobile fees from $12 to $18, with additional revenue going to the snowmobile account for grooming, plowing, sanitation, and other State Parks snowmobile programs. State Parks said the program has seen declining registrations and reduced services, while supporters from the snowmobile community said the increase is needed to stabilize the program and keep trails open. Some testimony supported the need for more revenue but opposed the fee increase as the wrong solution, arguing the program needs broader reform and that many snowmobiles remain unregistered. The hearing record noted 3 people signed in pro and 105 con. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6110, which would clarify the definition of e-bikes, exclude vehicles capable of exceeding 20 mph solely on motor power or easily modified to do so, and direct the Department of Licensing to convene a work group to develop recommendations for regulating electric motorcycles. Committee discussion focused on the distinction between legal e-bikes and faster e-motos, with questions about wattage, speed, youth use, and whether the bill should define e-motorcycles more directly. Students, local officials, city representatives, trail advocates, and bicycle groups testified in support, describing safety concerns, injuries, and confusion in enforcement, while also emphasizing that true e-bikes improve mobility and access. Several local government and advocacy witnesses asked for a clearer statutory definition of e-motorcycles and a civil enforcement path for juveniles. No final action was taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I drive 70 miles an hour.
• driving 75 miles an hour in the passing lane.
• Like, I'm teaching my daughter how to drive, and she's...
• People say, well, people drive it anyway.
• So all those things that have been mentioned, distracted driving, drunk driving, you can just go down

Committees: House Transportation , House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• It seeks to define the driving task.
• ,</c><00:09:35.080><c> which</c> identify who is actually driving, which identify who is actually driving
• The Waymo driver, our automated driving system, drives over 4 million miles on a weekly basis.
• </c> autonomous driving. autonomous driving.
• </c> we're we're driving them away. we're we're driving them away.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I drive 70 miles an hour.
• driving 75 miles an hour in the passing lane.
• You hear people say, well, people drive it anyway.
• You hear people say, well, people drive it anyway.
• So all those things that have been mentioned—distracted driving, drunk driving—you can just go down the

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on Senate Bill 1408, which would allow Missouri to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Senator Berger, the bill sponsor, argued the change would better match neighboring states, improve traffic flow, and reflect modern vehicle safety technology. Several members supported the idea as a practical adjustment, while others questioned whether the time savings were worth the safety tradeoff, raised concerns about driver behavior, truck speed governors, road design, fuel use, and the possibility that higher posted limits would lead to even faster driving. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including a motorist advocate and some committee members, said 75 mph is common in surrounding states and worldwide, that most crashes are caused by inattention rather than speed alone, and that MoDOT should be able to set limits based on engineering and traffic conditions. Opponents included a Hazelwood police lieutenant, AAA, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. They argued that higher speeds increase crash severity and fatalities, that Missouri’s roads and traffic volumes differ from flatter neighboring states, and that the bill could disproportionately affect young and older drivers as well as roadside workers. MoDOT said its data shows speed is a major factor in fatal crashes and cited fatality increases in Arkansas and Kansas after those states raised rural interstate limits. Committee members also debated whether the bill actually mandates 75 mph or merely authorizes MoDOT to set it where appropriate. MoDOT and AAA said any increase should be tied to engineering studies and roadway-specific analysis, while supporters argued the department already has that discretion and that the bill simply removes an outdated cap. No vote was taken in the excerpt. After closing the hearing on SB 1408, the committee moved on to House Bill 3447, a towing and recovery bill that would require more insurance for large commercial vehicles, improve notice and dispute procedures, and address abandoned vehicles; testimony on that bill began with the sponsor and representatives from the towing and trucking industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even our rural students who are familiar with driving because they’ve been driving on the farm are
• , but I had been driving a tractor for a lot of years when I was ready to drive a car.
• Compare driving, distracted driving. Things that go into it. We have programs for that already.
• Compare driving, distracted driving, speeding, and things like that. Right.
• I've driven, and still do drive, 18-wheelers, big loads, heavy loads. I drive a normal truck, car.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education