Transcript Highlights:

• We’ll take a brief look at where all of these traffic management for advanced aviation.
• And in the aviation industry, it’s even more difficult because... ...in different fashions.
• The Federal Aviation Administration, we’re on the cusp of seeing new rules issued.
• And fatalities and incidences in aviation, over 80% of them are because of human error.
• There is about $970,000 approved for that from the facility maintenance fund.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Summary: The committee first received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. Staff reported that the state started the biennium about $176 million above prior estimates, but year-to-date revenues were now running below legislative forecast, mainly due to lower individual income tax and sales tax collections. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap, the legacy fund continued to grow, and oil revenues were slightly above forecast overall. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing variability, and OMB said agencies would be asked to address potential federal reductions case by case during budget preparation. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analysis materials, followed by a bill draft for a fixed-route city transportation grant program. Testimony from transit officials in Fargo and Minot supported the proposal, saying state aid would help match federal transit funds and support operations, but members raised questions about the funding source, fare structures, and whether the program should be limited to the current four fixed-route cities or allow future eligible cities. Several members asked for more time to study the formula and possible funding options before moving the bill forward. Next, the committee approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to a proposed North Dakota-South Dakota bi-state authority. Staff explained the provision had been unused for about 30 years and that existing law likely already allowed joint powers agreements without the specific language. The committee voted to adopt the repeal bill draft. The Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site then provided an update on uncrewed aircraft system initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and future revenue models. Officials said North Dakota had received FAA approval to operate the radar data pathfinder, had begun replacing non-compliant drones from restricted foreign sources, and was working on phased procurement and cost-recovery plans. Members asked about deadlines, funding, supply-chain issues, and how the system would be used; staff said the federal restrictions were already in effect and that Vantis was being positioned as infrastructure for future beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Finally, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and on a reentry housing task force. The new facility is planned for the penitentiary grounds, with a reduced estimated cost of about $263 million, 600 beds initially, possible expansion to 732 beds, and completion projected around 2031 if funded in 2027. The reentry housing task force described a data-driven effort to identify housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with the goal of reducing homelessness and recidivism through targeted housing support and possible subsidies. Members asked about staffing, site selection, housing duration, and whether employment and transportation needs would be included in the assessment.

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that in aviation it is even more difficult because safety of flight requires not just the raw
• Trevor Woods explained that the Federal Aviation Administration is on the cusp of issuing new rules,
• The federal aviation administration, we're on the cusp of seeing new rules issued.
• We call that Part 146 infrastructure, ADSP advanced data or aviation data service provider.
• There's about $970,000 approved for that from the facility maintenance fund.

Summary: The committee began with roll call, introductions of a new fiscal analyst and a new member, and approval of the March 19 minutes. The first major presentation was from the Office of Management and Budget on the state’s general fund and special fund status through May. OMB reported general fund revenues were running below the legislative forecast by about $76 million, driven largely by weaker individual income tax and sales tax collections, though the projected ending balance remained positive and above the budgeted level. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap and would transfer excess earnings to the general fund, and the legacy fund balance continued to grow. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing revenue variability. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analyses, followed by discussion of a bill draft for the fixed-route city transportation network study. The draft would create a $15 million general fund grant program with a formula-based distribution to eligible fixed-route transit cities, intended to support operating and capital needs and help match federal transit funds. Transit officials from Minot and Fargo testified in support, explaining local fare and match structures and the difficulty of replacing aging buses and securing federal matching dollars. Several members questioned whether the program should be limited to the current four cities or broadened to future eligible urban areas, and whether local funding sources should be explored further. The committee did not finalize the bill draft at that point and planned to continue discussion at a later meeting. The committee also approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to approval of a bi-state authority with South Dakota, after staff explained that no agreements had ever been implemented and the provision appeared outdated. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried. Later, the Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site presented updates on uncrewed aircraft systems initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and efforts to build a revenue model for Vantis. Test site officials said FAA approval had been secured for the radar data program, replacement of noncompliant drones was underway, and future revenue could come from state and external users once pricing and intellectual property arrangements are finalized. Members asked about Chinese-made drones, supply chain issues, automation, and how the system would manage beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation then presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and a reentry housing study. Officials said the proposed facility would relocate the minimum-security prison to the penitentiary campus, reduce costs from an earlier estimate, and provide more beds and programming space, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and opening around 2031. They also described staffing needs, the planned move of women to the New England facility, and possible expansion of men’s housing there. The parole and probation chief described a reentry housing task force studying housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with a goal of developing data-driven recommendations for subsidies and support services; a representative from Protection and Advocacy closed by expressing general support for fixed-route and paratransit funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> coordination, and bringing our aviation coordination, and bringing our aviation infrastructure<00
• Uh, my amendment provides $55 million to build a new aviation maintenance hangar and operations building
• ...new aviation maintenance hangar and operations building and renovate the existing hangar space at
• </c> Aviation.
• This proud combat aviation Aviation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes payments from aviation fuel tax as well as licensing and fines.
• Next, you see a line item request for State Highway 16's operations and maintenance.
• At the Stanley Airport, and then next you see $43,000 for aeronautics facilities maintenance.
• “But last year in FY25, we lost nearly a fourth of our highway maintenance workers.
• It's a little different, and so we catch up on the backlog of other maintenance items.

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation on the Idaho Transportation Department from Legislative Services analyst Brooke Dupree and then from Director Scott Stokes. The presentation outlined ITD’s four divisions and major funding sources, including the State Highway Fund, Aeronautics Fund, and the Transportation Expansion Congestion Mitigation (TECK) and Garvey bonding programs. The analyst also reviewed appropriation trends, noting the effect of reappropriations and the continuous appropriation of the Strategic Initiatives Program Fund, and compared the department’s request with the governor’s recommendation. ITD’s requested enhancements included $15.5 million for deferred maintenance on state buildings, funding for State Highway 16 operations and maintenance, $4.9 million for roadside tree removal, $4.7 million for new equipment, a $275 million general fund transfer for safety, capacity, road, and bridge work, and smaller requests for airport improvements and aeronautics maintenance. Members asked about the Highway 16 funding, the continuous appropriation language, the impact of the governor’s decision not to recommend the $275 million transfer, and the department’s equipment and maintenance priorities. The director explained that much of the work is contracted, that the agency is prioritizing pavement and bridge condition, and that the department is prepared to move projects quickly if funding returns. In questioning, legislators also raised concerns about the reduction in strategic initiatives funding, the department’s workforce retention, the State Street property project, and why ITD remains on its existing finance system rather than fully transitioning to LUMA. Stokes said the State Street project has had modest spending so far, with about $41 million appropriated and an estimated total cost of $60 million to $70 million, and that the agency is still housed at the Chinden campus. He also said workforce retention has improved somewhat after prior pay adjustments, and that the LUMA decision was driven by federal reimbursement and system integration concerns. The committee took no vote on the budget in this segment and adjourned with notice that rescissions, cash transfers, and statewide decisions would be taken up the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increasing operation and maintenance increasing operation and maintenance costs<00:08:34.240><c>
• Sustainable aviation fuel is a demand from corporate airlines across the world, including Delta, and
• Sustainable aviation fuel is a demand from corporate airlines across the world, including Delta, and
• Shifting to sustainable aviation fuel, I talked a little bit about the fuel already.
• </c> fund shifting to sustainable aviation fund shifting to sustainable aviation fuel<00:47:25.760><c

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're proposing to create a new tax credit to incentivize companies that produce aviation fuel from renewable
• One is a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit.
• So for the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, any company that was selling sustainable aviation fuel
• or producing it for use and sale within California... ...sustainable aviation fuel or producing it for
• and members, Michael Pimtel here on behalf of the California Transit Association, calling for the maintenance

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• So article one is the sustainable aviation fuel policy and funding changes.
• </c><00:05:39.560><c> fuel</c> is uh the sustainable aviation fuel is uh the sustainable aviation fuel
• Don't ask me exactly the details on that, but this sustainable aviation fuels, uh, is huge, and we know
• The other one is personal consumption—haircuts, funerals—and then automobile repair and maintenance.
• and if you look at these maintenance and if you look at these other<00:30:32.760><c> three</c><00:30

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• screening equipment acquisition, installation, and maintenance.
• <01:29:55.760><c> and</c> maintenance and maintenance and office<01:29:58.040><c> office</c><01:29:58.360
• </c><01:30:43.080><c> workers</c><01:30:43.639><c> screening</c> for TSA Aviation workers screening for
• <01:30:46.960><c> modified</c><01:30:47.560><c> $1</c><01:30:47.960><c> dollar</c> maintenance modified
• $1 dollar maintenance modified $1 dollar governance<01:30:48.639><c> message</c><01:30:49.000><c> 195

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first one actually is Article 1, Sustainable Aviation and Fuel Policy.
• So the first one actually is Article 1, Sustainable Aviation and Fuel Policy.
• So the first one actually is Article 1, Sustainable Aviation and Fuel Policy.
• and this one certainly the maintenance and this one certainly the ones<00:25:37.600><c> we</c><00:25
• </c><01:02:59.680><c> fuel</c> touches on the sustainable aviation fuel touches on the sustainable aviation

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• And even in the near term, there's an opportunity for in-state production of sustainable aviation fuel
• with cuts in gasoline and diesel demand, ongoing demand is expected from other sectors, including aviation
• We regulate oil and gas drilling wells, operations, and maintenance.
• And then also the Energy Commission analysis showed that planned and unplanned maintenance events due
• We'll continue to see a decline in the usage for light-duty vehicles, but in terms of aviation fuel,

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy, Transportation, and Natural Resources focused on California’s transportation fuels sector, especially the state’s response to refinery closures and the broader transition away from fossil fuels. Opening remarks emphasized the tension between climate and air-quality goals, fuel affordability, refinery jobs and local tax bases, and the need to avoid crisis-driven responses as Phillips 66 and Valero consider shutting refineries in Wilmington and Benicia. Professor Emily Grubert framed the issue as a long-term managed transition in which the public already bears much of the risk and should also capture benefits from a well-planned shift. CARB Chair Leanne Randolph reviewed the state’s emissions and fuel policies, including AB 32, the low-carbon fuel standard, clean vehicle programs, and the at-berth regulation for ocean-going vessels. She said California’s transportation sector remains the largest source of greenhouse gases and a major source of smog-forming pollution, but that the state has made substantial progress and still needs to reduce demand for fossil fuels while maintaining compliance with federal air-quality standards. Randolph also said CARB’s recent LCFS amendments had not caused the predicted spike in gas prices and explained that compliance pathways for the at-berth rule include emissions-reduction technologies or payments into a remediation fund. CEC Vice Chair Gunda described declining gasoline demand, shrinking in-state refining capacity, and growing dependence on imports, arguing that the state is in a “mid-transition” period that requires both support for legacy infrastructure and continued investment in cleaner alternatives. He outlined the administration’s petroleum market stabilization proposal, which aims to return California crude production to 125 million barrels a year through four components: codifying the ban on fracking, validating the Kern County oil-and-gas permitting ordinance, creating a temporary CEQA exemption paired with a two-for-one plug-and-drill framework, and strengthening pipeline and spill-safety requirements. Department of Conservation Director Jennifer Lucasey said the proposal is intended to stabilize crude supply and pipeline throughput while preserving health and environmental protections, and noted that CalGEM would still review permits and enforce other requirements. Mayor Steve Young of Benicia testified that a Valero closure would significantly reduce city revenue and leave the community facing years of cleanup and redevelopment challenges. He said the city supports environmental protection but is worried about the economic hit, the possibility that Benicia becomes a fuel-import terminal, and the lack of local influence over refinery decisions. Members pressed the panel on the CEQA exemption, tribal and habitat review, disclosure of closure liabilities, fuel-demand projections, and whether the proposal should include more demand-side measures. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and officials said some proposals, including a margin-cap pause and further transition planning, would be taken up later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• went in fits and starts and stops, but our RFP was awarded, and this is the continuation in the maintenance
• ammo depot, and $10 million is going to the Fort Sill project Vista, which is for education and aviation
• program and its associated revolving fund to the military readiness, innovation, education, and aviation
• technology education and innovation program and the military readiness innovation and education and aviation
• So, this is the ongoing maintenance or is it in addition?

Bills: HB4030 , HB4031 , HB4032 , HB4033 , HB4034 , HB4035 , HB4036 , HB4037 , HB4038 , HB4039 , HB4040 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4043 , HB4044 , HB4045 , HB4046 , HB4047 , HB4048 , HB4049 , HB4050 , HB4051 , HB4052 , HB4053 , HB4054 , HB4056 , HB4057 , HB4065 , HB4067 , HB4071 , HB4072 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1146 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1149 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1158 , SB1159 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1163 , SB1164 , SB1165 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1174 , SB1175 , SB1176

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, not just the owners and not just the bills that we have to pay, not just the maintenance that

Bills: HCR41 , HB11 , HB227 , HB243 , HB278 , HB335 , HB424 , HB454 , HB455 , HB492 , HB623 , HB641 , HB660 , HB708 , HB719 , HB940 , HB1029 , HB1053 , HB1069 , HB1077

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: coupons, rebates, alcohol regulation, malt beverages, Louisiana Department of Revenue, remembrance, Charlie Kirk, state recognition, October 14, memorial day, court filings, electronic filing, letter size paper, privacy, legal procedure, recusal, district attorney, substitute attorney, appointment process, legal proceedings

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires that expenditures for the IFS waiver be budgeted at maintenance level, beginning with
• Senate Bill 6163 would fix this by linking the CFC forecast for IFS to the maintenance level budget,
• Please fund IDD support in the basic, I'm sorry, in the maintenance level budget.
• Senate Bill 6163 reflects that shared commitment, and by aligning waiver services with the maintenance
• So what happens is when policy becomes maintenance level, it tends to kind of grow in the dark because

Bills: SB5834 , SB5835 , SB5883 , SB5905 , SB6151 , SB6163 , SB6177 , SB6173

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection

Bills: HB937 , HB2078 , HB2080 , HB3322 , HB3350 , HB4212 , HB4630 , HB4896 , HB4951 , HB5348 , HB5675 , SB565 , SB971 , SB1662 , SB2124

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Bills: HB231 , HB231 , HB475 , HB488 , HB632 , HB821 , HB1786 , HB1955 , HB2036 , HB2060 , HB2659 , HB2677

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: HB 231, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, permit exemption, dam, reservoir, erosion control, flood control, floodwater control, sediment control, watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, local sponsor, water appropriation, small dam, water diversion, maintenance, rehabilitation

Bills: HB231 , HB475 , HB488 , HB632 , HB821 , HB1786 , HB1955 , HB2036 , HB2060 , HB2659 , HB2677 , HB231

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: food access, food deserts, communities of color, health disparities, socioeconomic impact, nutritious food, health effects, socioeconomic disparities, legislative recommendations, nutrition, access to food, Medicaid, multisystemic therapy, healthcare, reimbursement, mental health services, education, funding, local control, school system

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the districts that that undertake the project development and delivery and maintenance of our
• We also have 10,500 miles of rail more than any other state. 266 general aviation airports, and then
• Not including our routine maintenance or our project development costs.
• over $1.4 billion in multimodal transportation projects and grants for public transportation, rail. aviation

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• You might see that Ohio has gone up really rapidly, and that's because there are maintenance issues in
• And then finally, look at sustainable aviation fuel.
• And then there were four refineries, I believe, down on the West Coast for maintenance.
• York, I think you're still here, but you've talked a lot about sustainable aviation fuel.
• The other thing I'll just briefly mention is the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• It puts more pressure on the operation and maintenance budgets to keep up with some of those failing
• And the converse is also true: reduced operation and maintenance does put more pressure on trying to
• But we have been, for years now, woefully lacking in funding for preservation and maintenance.
• But we have been, for years now, woefully lacking in funding for preservation and maintenance.
• It is, I mean, our maintenance folks have maintained bridges for that.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee devoted its meeting to a presentation from Troy Suing of the Department of Transportation on state highway preservation needs. Suing said DOT is a leader in asset planning, but that current funding is not enough to keep up with the condition of highways, bridges, and other assets. He distinguished operations and maintenance from preservation, and described the preservation program’s main parts: pavements, bridges, and other highway facilities such as slopes, rest areas, signal systems, retaining walls, and culverts. Suing reported that about 40% of state roads are already overdue for preservation and that, with current funding, as much as 85% could need preservation within 10 years. He said there are more than 7,900 lane miles currently due, and that delaying work past the “lowest life cycle zone” increases risk and can cost three to five times more later. For bridges, he said the state has about 3,400 bridges, an average age of 52 years, and roughly 10% are over 80 years old; the share of bridges in poor condition is about 9.9%, near the federal threshold that could trigger more federal oversight. He also highlighted culvert failures, including one on SR-510, and the closed Carbon River Bridge on SR-165 as examples of how deferred preservation can lead to closures and community disruption. Committee members questioned the comparison to national asset management leadership, liability risk as roads deteriorate, the cost and regulatory burden of bridge projects, and whether DOT is relying more on its own crews for bridge work because of cost and urgency. Suing said the department is underfunded to fully implement its asset plans and is forced to focus on risk, emergent needs, and the most critical bridge work first. He said DOT’s 2026 supplemental budget identified preservation as one of five unfunded critical priorities and estimated a 10-year preservation need of $8 billion to address the backlog and become proactive again. Members discussed whether targeted funding in the next biennium could help move the state back toward the “green zone,” and the chair closed by emphasizing the real-world impacts of bridge and road failures and the need for legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do sometimes do similar types of activities, but in general the operations and maintenance group is
• So that is all intertwined in our operations and maintenance group.
• It puts more pressure on the operations and maintenance budgets to keep up with some of those failing
• But we have been, for years now, woefully lacking in funding for preservation and maintenance.
• It is, I mean, they have maintained, our maintenance folks have maintained...

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee devoted the meeting to state highway preservation needs, with testimony from Troy Suing of the Department of Transportation’s Capital Program Development and Management program. Suing said the department is a national leader in asset planning, but current funding is not enough to keep up with preservation needs. He distinguished preservation from operations and maintenance, and outlined the main highway preservation categories: pavements, bridges, and other highway facilities such as slopes, rest areas, signal systems, retaining walls, and culverts. Suing presented data showing that many assets are already past the optimal “lowest life cycle” point for repair. He said about 40% of roads are overdue for preservation now, and roughly 85% could need some form of preservation within 10 years under current funding. For bridges, he said Washington has about 3,400 bridges, with an average age of 52 years, and about 9.9% are currently in poor condition, putting the state near the federal 10% threshold that could trigger more federal oversight. He also described culvert failures and bridge closures, including the Carbon River Bridge, as examples of how deferred maintenance can quickly disrupt communities. Committee members asked about liability risk, bridge project costs and regulatory burden, traffic data, and whether DOT is using more in-house crews for bridge work. Suing said deterioration increases tort and closure risks, bridge projects can involve significant design, environmental, permitting, and outreach costs, and DOT is relying more on maintenance forces in part because of the volume and urgency of repairs. He said the department’s 2026 supplemental budget identified preservation as one of five underfunded critical priorities and estimated a 10-year preservation need of $8 billion to address the backlog and become more proactive. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended with committee appreciation for DOT staff and a brief birthday announcement from Senator Alvarado.