Video & Transcript : 'technology services' :
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CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 010 Jan 24th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Health and Human Services. June 20, 2025.
- </c> >> Health and Human Services. >> Health and Human Services.
- Health and Human Services. January 9, 2026.
- Business, Labor, and Technology. Mr.
- </c> >> business, labor, and technology. Mr. >> business, labor, and technology. Mr.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
04/29/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #21
Transcript Highlights:
- We're talking about adult protective services at the Department of Economic Security and Department of
- Public Safety, and developmentally disabled services.
- Representative Livingston, members, House Bill 4147 is the Human Services Budget Bill, which contains
- And, you know, under the provisions number two it says that it continues to declare science, technology
- , engineering, mathematics, and workforce... ...It continues to declare science, technology, engineering
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation May 28th, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- As mentioned, the Transportation Committee staff and Legislative Information Services are on hand.
- Obviously, the technology... ...that have to work on in the future.
- Obviously, the technology has outpaced legislation, and that's why this commission was formed.
- We'll have to then do our in-service training, mandatory in-service training.
- Mobility technology, as you've heard, has far outpaced regulation, and there are many devices in technology
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hearing on the governor’s Ride Safe Act (S 3077), a micromobility bill based on recommendations from last year’s Special Commission on Micromobility. Administration witnesses from MassDOT and the MBTA said the bill is needed because current laws are outdated and inconsistent, and they emphasized a new speed-based framework that would classify devices by maximum speed rather than by device name. They said the bill would set statewide rules, clarify enforcement, require safety equipment and age limits, restrict unsafe modifications, improve crash-data collection, and create a working group to address future issues such as registration, licensure, insurance, and emerging technologies.
Committee members asked about crash reporting, battery safety, enforcement on shared-use paths, commuter rail access, and how the bill would apply to off-road vehicles. Several witnesses and legislators supported the bill’s general approach but raised concerns about whether the speed tiers should be tied more directly to actual operating speed on paths, whether higher-speed devices should be registered, and how police would distinguish between similar-looking devices. Representative and commission witnesses also urged more funding for Complete Streets and Shared Streets and Spaces, and some suggested adding default speed limits on shared-use paths and automated enforcement tools.
Public testimony was mixed. Pediatric emergency physicians strongly supported the bill but urged amendments for a minimum age to operate powered devices and a universal helmet requirement, citing rising severe injuries and deaths among children. A police chief and other safety advocates backed clearer rules and better data collection, while some moped riders objected that the bill would treat low-speed gas mopeds too harshly and should better account for mopeds as vulnerable road users. UL Standards and AAA supported the bill’s safety and clarity goals, with UL recommending tighter language on battery certification and equivalent standards. No vote was taken at the hearing.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
PUBLIC HEALTH WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE-SENATE AND HOUSE Apr 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're leading off with Thrive, which is the big technology piece because we think technology is a good
- We service people south of us 40, 50, 60 miles, east of us 40, 50, 60 miles.
- And Elizabeth Pittman, Director for Division of Medical Services.
- management services, including referrals to care and services available in the geographic region of that
- we've added to our state plan as a service for this population.
Summary:
The committee heard extensive public testimony from youth advocates and public health speakers urging action on vaping. Witnesses said flavored products and social media are driving youth use in Arkansas, described nicotine addiction and health harms, and asked lawmakers to prohibit vaping in public indoor spaces, align vape rules with smoke-free laws, and expand prevention efforts. Committee members thanked the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation.
The main presentation was an overview of Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded through CMS. State officials said Arkansas received about $209 million for the first year and may receive roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is intended for targeted, locally driven transformation rather than general operating support, debt relief, or new construction, and outlined four initiatives: Heart, PACT, Rise, and Thrive, focused on prevention, access and coordination, workforce development, and technology. Officials said applications would open in the spring, with a reimbursement-based process and a goal of launching all four initiatives by June.
Members asked detailed questions about eligibility, rural definitions, school gardens, faith-based and nonprofit partnerships, mobile clinics, EMS, behavioral health, residency slots, and whether urban providers serving rural patients could apply. Officials said the program would favor regional collaboration, could support targeted renovations and expansion of existing programs, and would allow residency growth and some equipment or infrastructure purchases, but not food purchases or permanent new construction. They also said a committee of state health and finance officials would review applications, with heavy technical assistance and an expectation of quick turnaround.
The committee also reviewed two DHS/Health Department rules. One implemented Medicaid and CHIP coverage and care coordination for eligible incarcerated youth before and after release, including targeted case management and screening services, with no public comments received. The other updated audiology licensing rules to reflect recent acts expanding scope of practice and changing the renewal deadline. Both rules were reviewed without objection, and the committee adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider pending calendar business; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine certain pending nominations. Apr 30th, 2025 at 08:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a great record of service.
- The career civil service in both of these departments and across the entire government has been under
- He acknowledges that nuclear power will be central to our future and that this technology will ensure
- To public service largely at the U.S.
- If I'm operating under a national energy emergency while excluding key technological technologies like
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Jun 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- To be clear, AB 470 is the legislation about voice telephone services, not broadband internet service
- or broadband internet service providers.
- COLR is, among other things, a mandate for universal service.
- If someone requests home phone service, they get it.
- There's an obligation to keep a service.
Summary:
The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard AB 470 by Assembly Member McKinnor, a bill to modernize California’s carrier-of-last-resort rules for voice telephone service and create a process for carriers to transition away from obsolete copper networks in favor of advanced telecommunications infrastructure. The author and supporters said the bill is aimed at preserving reliable voice and 911 access while encouraging private investment in fiber and other modern networks, and emphasized that it is not a broadband bill. Support came from AT&T, business groups, and a former Cal OES director, who argued the bill provides a careful, phased modernization with CPUC oversight and increased public-safety investment requirements.
Opposition came from TURN, CWA District 9, digital equity organizations, labor groups, and several local governments and county representatives. Critics raised concerns about the adequacy of the mapping process, reliance on broadband and wireless coverage data, the lack of on-the-ground verification, the challenge process, possible loss of Lifeline protections, and the impact on workers and union jobs. They also argued the bill could allow carriers to reduce universal-service obligations without enough safeguards for rural and vulnerable customers.
Committee members discussed those concerns at length, especially the map-making process, the challenge procedure, and whether the bill sufficiently protects workers and customers who could be left behind. The author said the bill includes a 10-year backstop if service is lost, a CPUC-led process, and a three-to-one fiber buildout requirement tied to relinquishment, and expressed willingness to continue working with labor on workforce language. The committee ultimately passed AB 470 on a 7-0 due pass vote.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The Committee on Health and Human Services is called to order.
- , can they use You know, if you don't know what's working, is it technology?
- Can they use more technology? That would be my question.
- I was in the service, but I was not in a position to do anything about it.
- The bill does not mandate payment or approval of services.
Bills:
HB2180, HB2184, HB2188, HB2194, HB2206, HB2321, HB2322, HB2438, HB2442, HB2448, HB2727, HB2797
Keywords:
appropriation, funding, University of Arizona, education, state budget, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, language acquisition, early intervention, hearing impairment, grant program, deaf education, health care, insurance claims, prior authorization
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Calling the Committee on Labor and Technology to order. We will begin with our 301 agenda.
- We're reconvening our 3:01 single Labor and Technology agenda.
- ,</c> electronic surveillance technology, electronic surveillance technology, could<00:38:33.560><c>
- </c><00:45:28.600><c> that</c> surveillance pricing technology that surveillance pricing technology that
- We're reconvening our 301 labor and technology agenda. We are now in decision making.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 2455, HD2, relating to employment practices. Testimony was limited, with support from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and UPW; the committee noted nine support, zero opposition, and zero comments. No vote was taken on this bill during the portion provided.
The committee then took up House Bill 2165, HD2, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law. DLIR supported the measure but requested an amendment moving language in Section 2 from subsection A to subsection C to preserve the legal structure. Members questioned DLIR about a January 8 U.S. Department of Labor letter and whether the bill would keep Hawaii in conformity with federal unemployment insurance requirements. DLIR said the federal guidance requires the state to remove the carve-out for labor-dispute claimants, though unions with hiring halls and members in good standing could still be exempt from work-search requirements under an authorized list. UNITE HERE Local 5 opposed the bill and said the current law already gives the department discretion to exempt striking workers. The committee recessed the bill before any final action was taken in the portion shown.
In the joint hearing with Commerce and Consumer Protection, the committees heard House Bill 1509, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation. DLIR supported the bill, DHER offered comments and requested an amendment, UPW supported it, and one Zoom testifier described personal experience with delayed care and urged faster decisions. After testimony, the committees voted to pass the bill with amendments. The adopted amendments restored the 7-day treatment-plan deadline from 10 days, changed the effective date to January 1, 2077, and struck the proposed $500 fine for employers who fail to respond within 10 days.
Back in the Labor and Technology agenda, the committee heard House Bill 1515, HD2, also relating to workers’ compensation, with testimony noting seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, but no action was taken in the excerpt. The committee also heard House Bill 1514, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation plans. A Zoom testifier opposed the bill, arguing the 120-day timeline was unrealistic for complex cases. DLIR said the bill would give the director discretion to extend the vocational rehabilitation plan timeline beyond 120 days with no cap on extensions, and the committee noted five support, four opposition, and zero comments. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2458, HD3, relating to surveillance pricing. OCP said it stood on written testimony, while supporters argued the bill would prevent corporations from using personal data to set prices, especially for groceries. Retail and grocery interests opposed the measure, saying it was too broad and could restrict loyalty programs, promotions, and discounts; one witness asked that a loyalty-program exemption be restored.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We are required to provide appropriate services immediately.
- We postpone maintenance or technology support.
- So, but the technology is... ...to Riggins to provide that.
- And then again, Cost alone is not a valid reason to deny those services.
- So we are required to provide these services.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of William Briggs, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator, and Casey Mulligan, of Illinois, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the Small Business Administration. Mar 12th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- During my prior service at SBA, I oversaw the day-to-day operations.
- I bring to the role over two decades of public service and private sector experience.
- My family is steeped in service to our country as much as the spirit of entrepreneurship.
- Now, we'll see if fusion technology is really here today.
- It said that those... test bedding of next-generation technology.
Keywords:
SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support
Summary:
The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Aug 10th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee May 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- . $200 million could have funded bookmobiles, social services, health care to the indigent.
- , but you're not able to provide services, so that becomes a loss of revenue.
- and Throughout California who want to provide this technology in rural communities.
- I—technology. New technology. New technology. I totally get it.
- This would be an impact to the General Fund, which means cuts to other general services.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several tax and revenue measures, beginning with SB 1329 on solar property tax assessment. The author and solar industry witnesses argued the bill would create a uniform statewide method, provide certainty for developers, and exclude tax credits and other intangibles from valuation; county assessors and several counties opposed it, saying it would reduce assessed value and depart from market-based appraisal. The bill was moved to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1406 to close the “Montana tax loophole” used to avoid California vehicle taxes, with support from the California Teachers Association and no registered opposition; it passed 2-0 and was placed on call. SB 984, conforming California law to the federal tipped-income deduction, drew support from the restaurant industry, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and enrolled agents, and passed 3-0 to Appropriations, on call.
Later, the committee considered wildfire- and energy-related tax credits. SB 1084 would create a fire-safe home tax credit for home hardening and defensible space improvements; supporters said it would reduce wildfire losses and insurance costs, and it passed 3-0 on call. SB 1118 would provide credits for backup generators and solar battery systems in high fire-threat areas; the author framed it as a resilience measure for households and small businesses, but members raised concerns about cost, diesel use, and whether the credit would reach lower-income households. The bill was moved 1-0 and placed on call, with the chair and other members noting unresolved budget and policy concerns. SB 1424, expanding a partial sales tax exemption to zero-emission vehicle refueling equipment, received support from hydrogen and electric transportation groups and passed 4-0 on call.
The committee also advanced SB 1249, a senior tax deduction for taxpayers ages 86 to 90, with support from LeadingAge California and senior advocates; members noted it was narrowly targeted and passed 4-0 on call. SB 1113, conforming California tax law to the federal tonnage tax regime for U.S.-flag international shipping companies, drew support from maritime industry groups and opposition from ILWU over the fiscal impact; it passed 4-0 on call. SB 1137, the Medical Expense Deduction Act, would allow a targeted deduction for medical expenses for lower-income taxpayers; supporters said it would help families facing high out-of-pocket costs, and it passed 4-0 on call. Finally, SB 1415 would extend a partial welfare property tax exemption to mixed-income housing that includes moderate-income units; supporters said it would help finance “missing middle” housing, while assessors and housing stakeholders requested amendments and guardrails. The bill was also moved forward on a committee vote and placed on call.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Environment, Energy & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- , staff, presenters, and all who are watching live from TVW to the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology
- described under a specified NAICS code, which includes data processing, hosting, and related services
- or affordability of electricity service to other ratepayers.
- The bill requires a data center that seeks electricity service or is already receiving service to agree
- The original House bill allowed utilities to refuse service to... ...Portland salmon.
Keywords:
weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, sustainability, environment, coal-fired plant, preferential treatment, energy policy, electric generation, regulatory reform, pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (02/10/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:43:15.079><c> neutral</c> more fuel diverse and Technology neutral more fuel diverse and Technology
- </c> and the technology and the technology used<00:51:35.559><c> and</c><00:51:35.760><c> lastly</c><
- </c><00:53:38.119><c> used</c> Bernardi um this these Technologies used Bernardi um this these Technologies
- So would this apply just to the default service energy?
- The service that they provide.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Legislative Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- , including but not limited to personalized firearm technology and microstamp technology.
- Technology is changing rapidly, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to look at the advantages of technology
- Technology evolved.
- As far as the smart gun technology goes, I support that technology provided it is not mandated, and I
- looking at technology that is emerging and evolving... ...committee, so we are looking at technology
Summary:
The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology met to review its work on intentional microstamping and personalized firearms and to discuss draft recommendations for a final report. The co-chairs summarized testimony received from manufacturers, advocates, law enforcement, and officials from New Jersey, New York, and California. For microstamping, the discussion focused on how the technology could help trace spent casings, its limits in forensic use, and concerns about wear, tampering, implementation costs, and whether it would burden lawful gun owners. For personalized firearms, members reviewed testimony about biometric smart guns, their current commercial availability, higher cost, and potential benefits for preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized use, especially involving children and suicide prevention.
Commissioners expressed a range of views. Several supported microstamping as a crime-solving tool and endorsed a recommendation that the legislature direct a feasibility and viability study, set standards and training, fund implementation, and create penalties for tampering. Others opposed microstamping, arguing it has not worked in other states, may not reduce crime, and could impose costs on manufacturers and owners. On personalized firearms, most commissioners supported encouraging the technology, but there was disagreement over whether to create a temporary sales tax exemption; some favored an incentive to promote adoption, while others opposed any tax subsidy for firearms or questioned whether the data justified it.
The co-chairs said they would draft a report reflecting the majority consensus and circulate it for review before a final vote at a later meeting, likely in July. The commission also discussed which executive branch agency should conduct the microstamping feasibility study, with the Attorney General’s office and EOPSS mentioned as possibilities. The meeting ended with agreement to reconvene for final votes on the report and recommendations.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environmental Quality Committee Feb 18th, 2026
Environmental Quality
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, I believe that the same technology that we use for cleanup of gasoline stations, because we are
- There could be a shift in terms of technologies.
- You're experiencing different levels of alternative technologies and all that.
- Being very, very explicit about what is providing what services to whom and when is, in our opinion,
- The mayor has warned of potential city staff layoffs and reduced services from parks to libraries.
Summary:
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee held an informational hearing on the environmental impacts and planning considerations associated with refinery closures. In opening remarks, the chair framed refinery shutdowns as a complex part of California’s decarbonization transition and said the committee would focus on environmental and land-use issues, while Vice Chair Gunda argued closures reflect years of policy-driven disinvestment and warned that supply disruptions and higher prices could harm working families. State agency witnesses from the Energy Commission, CARB, and the Water Boards described the state as being in a “mid-transition,” with declining gasoline demand, growing zero-emission vehicle adoption, and increasing conversion of some refinery assets to renewable fuels, but also with abrupt capacity losses that can force greater reliance on imports and storage. They emphasized the need for proactive planning, transparency, and coordination across agencies, and noted that refinery closures can stress pipelines, terminals, and other linked infrastructure, with potential liabilities falling to the state if those assets are not financially supported.
The Water Boards explained their cleanup authorities and tools for refinery decommissioning, including investigation, monitoring, remediation, and enforcement under the Water Code, and said site-specific cleanup plans depend on contamination, groundwater conditions, and future land use. They noted that decommissioning can reveal previously inaccessible areas and require additional sampling or wells, and that cleanup costs can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Committee members pressed the witnesses on whether the state has enough information to plan for land transitions, whether current tools are adequate, and whether more standardized procedures or financial assurances are needed. The witnesses generally said existing tools are useful but that more transparency and better data sharing would help communities and policymakers understand liabilities and long-term redevelopment opportunities.
Members also questioned the relationship between California policy, refinery closures, imports, and global emissions. CARB said its programs apply to transportation fuel suppliers whether fuel is refined in-state or imported, and that its climate and air-quality rules are designed to reduce emissions and avoid leakage. Some senators argued that California’s policies have accelerated closures and that demand has not fallen fast enough to offset lost refining capacity, while agency witnesses responded that closures are also driven by global market forces, aging infrastructure, crude quality, and changing fuel demand. The committee then heard from outside experts, including a Notre Dame professor who said closure costs are often underestimated and that stronger financial assurance requirements can shift company behavior, a Stanford/SLAC researcher who outlined five drivers of refinery closures, and an environmental attorney who discussed community impacts and lessons from the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery closure. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational and focused on testimony and questions.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Apr 1st, 2025
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- So they do exactly this, this referral service for Floridians in need.
- And so although it is a great opportunity to be able to reach different services, these services are
- And so I'm here to shine a light on that because ...providing services.
- Senate Bill 1088 on State Department customer service standards by Senator Polsky.
- I'd like to talk about service of process in painful detail.
Summary:
The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, many involving public records exemptions and government operations. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 342 on an Agency for Health Care Administration public records exemption for employees facing threats; SB 7018 preserving a public records exemption tied to parental consent/judicial bypass records for minors seeking abortions; SB 626 lowering quorum requirements and allowing remote participation for the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys; SB 710 protecting personal information of Crime Stoppers employees, board members, volunteers, and their families; SB 300 extending clerk personal-information protections to appellate court clerks; and SB 302 creating a similar exemption for Judicial Qualifications Commission employees. The committee also approved SB 7010 and SB 7008, which preserve and narrow public records exemptions related to the Department of Financial Services as receiver for insolvent insurers and the financial technology sandbox, respectively.
The committee also heard and advanced several policy bills. SB 820 codifies the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor; Senator Polsky questioned whether the office was duplicative of existing services and raised concerns about religion in state governance, while supporters argued it complements existing networks and helps connect Floridians to services. SB 1144 codifies the Hope Florida program, with supporters describing it as a connector to community resources and critics again raising concerns about overlap, private donations, and accountability; both SB 820 and SB 1144 passed on largely party-line votes with Senator Polsky voting no. SB 804 would redesignate the SS American Victory as the state flagship, but Senator Rodriguez opposed giving up the current flagship designation for the Key West schooner, though the bill still passed favorably. SB 214 designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day and passed without opposition. SB 1088 requires certain state customer-service phone lines to offer callback features, and SB 576 makes technical fixes to service-of-process law; both were reported favorably.
Additional bills included SB 1524, a broad Department of State measure with a strike-all amendment that revises grant-review procedures, adds an America 250 funding focus, and changes commission-fee and oath requirements; Senator Arrington and Senator Polsky expressed concerns about reviewer qualifications, grant criteria, and the impact on arts and cultural programs, and both voted no while the bill still passed. SB 1640, on confidentiality of lethality assessment forms in domestic violence cases, was amended to allow disclosure to domestic violence centers while barring disclosure to state attorneys, and it passed favorably. SB 1160 expands health insurance premium benefits for certain officers catastrophically injured or killed in the line of duty; supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in support, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also confirmed eight appointments to the Florida Commission on Community Service, the Investment Advisory Council, the Public Employees Relations Commission, and the State Retirement Commission. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- , but in my house, they don't have technology.
- , but in my house, they don't have technology.
- First of all, technology is incredible what we can do with technology.
- We have the technology. Well, of course they have the technology. They know how to do it.
- Senators, the technology is amazing.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And we also do goods and services.
- Rick Breastening, in a district that provides a lot of goods and services that need to be transported
- So they got that service that they need to pay back.
- We've been putting a lot of effort into how we can partner on these encampments with local services,
- providing services, being able to work through the counties and the cities to provide services and beds
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several governor’s appointments, routine agenda items, and the confirmation hearing for Dina El-Tawansy to serve as Director of the California Department of Transportation. The committee first approved a series of appointments to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Contractors State License Board, and Medical Board of California, along with bill referrals, a rule waiver for guests on the Senate floor for a memorial adjournment in honor of former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgments. Most of these actions were approved on 5-0 votes, with the early appointment items passing 3-2.
The committee then heard testimony from El-Tawansy, who emphasized her 28 years at Caltrans, a focus on safety, equity, climate resilience, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of transportation issues, including the impact of federal and state disputes affecting immigrant truck drivers and highway funding, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal rules, asphalt recycling and disposal, climate-related damage to roads and coastal infrastructure, and the future of gas-tax revenue and road user charges. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is prioritizing safety and emergency projects, working on reevaluating DBEs, advancing climate adaptation planning, and studying road user charge pilots and related technology.
Members also asked about small business participation, toll lane agreements, homelessness encampments on Caltrans property, and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor. El-Tawansy described Caltrans programs to support small and disadvantaged businesses, local hiring, heavy equipment and CDL training, standardized toll lane agreements, delegated maintenance MOUs with local governments, and expanded efforts on encampment response and rail/transit planning. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with representatives from transportation agencies, contractors, local governments, labor, and technology firms urging confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation, then adjourned.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And we also do goods and services, and Rick Breasting in a district that provides a lot of goods and
- services that need to be transported and working with our local trucking agencies.
- So they got that service that they need to pay back.
- services, being able to work through the counties and the cities to provide services and beds for people
- About this road usage charge, if it becomes a thing, is the technology that the state is going to use