Video & Transcript : 'backlog of repairs' :
Page 25 of 500
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Oversight & Investigations Committee (8-29-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- of 150 million of you mentioned that of 150 million of bonding<00:18:30.960><c> going</c><00:18:31.200
- </c> a lot of concern um and the amount of a lot of concern um and the amount of time<00:20:59.600><c
- qualities of of that kind of qualities of of that kind of acquisition. acquisition. acquisition.
- c><00:47:20.960><c> makeup</c><00:47:21.440><c> of</c> kind of makeup of kind of makeup of reporting<
- of areas of hospitals, in the confluence of areas of hospitals, foster<01:39:43.600><c> care</c><01:
Keywords:
Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03
Approve Minutes from July 10, 2025- 00:02:41
Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System Testimony- 00:03:38
Investment of State Funds- 00:46:13
Department of Juvenile Justice Update- 1:11:34
Adjournment- 1:54:08, 958, all
Summary:
The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet.
Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders.
Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Information Technology Oversight Committee (8-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> of the of the project. of the of the project.
- And so, the repair of all squirrel chews and any other outages are the responsibility of the service
- The repair of the actual cable itself is also the obligation of the service provider.
- The repair of the actual cable itself is The repair of the actual cable itself is also<00:37:17.920><
- I would say right now they are kind of in a parking lot or in a backlog, but they're not yet on a roadmap
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:27
Legislative Research Commission 00:01:15
KentuckyWired Operations Company 00:17:30
Wireless Internet Service Providers Association 00:40:15
Administrative Office of the Courts 01:08:55
Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts 01:33:00, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first approved the July 9 minutes without objection and heard from Jay Hartz and Jonathan Harris of the Legislative Research Commission. Members asked about Capitol and legislator security in light of recent targeted shootings in other states. Hartz said LRC had removed members’ home addresses from its website, was reviewing other state-government records for similar information, and was working with the Speaker, Senate President, Kentucky State Police, and outside security experts on broader safety measures. He also said LRC is exploring commercial products to help block personal contact information from public view, but declined to name vendors publicly. Harris added that driver’s license scans at the Capitol are handled by Kentucky State Police, while LRC has a process for flagging high-volume or concerning contacts for police review. The LRC also reported that redistricting work has already begun, with census coordination underway, evaluation of redistricting software including Mapitude and open-source tools, and plans to make the same tools available to the public in the LRC library.
The committee then heard from Kentucky Wired Operations Company CEO Robert Morphonius, COO Tom Snyder, and counsel Patrick Hughes about the Kentucky Wired network. They explained the corporate structure: Kentucky Wired Operations Company is a private for-profit special purpose entity that designs, builds, operates, and maintains the network; Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Company is a nonprofit instrumentality used for financing; and Open Fiber Kentucky handles commercialization of excess capacity under a wholesale agreement. They said Kentucky Wired Operations is in the operations and maintenance phase, with those obligations continuing until 2045, and that technical changes to the network generally require KCNA approval through formal change-order processes. They also said the company conducted a market test in June 2023 under Schedule 19 of its contract, considered proposals including Open Fiber and the incumbent service provider, and retained the existing provider.
Members asked about KCNA’s role, procurement, network customers, and revenue. The witnesses said Quac operates outside normal state procurement because its process is governed by contract, while KCNA acts as the Commonwealth’s oversight authority and filter for changes. They identified current network users as including AOC, KCTCS, postsecondary education, and other Commonwealth agencies, with all requests routed through KCNA; they also said a separate change process for Exceliccom is in litigation. On funding, they said the operation is paid through monthly appropriations, with roughly a million dollars a month for the service provider and a couple hundred thousand for Quac’s oversight, not including debt service, which is bundled into the availability payment. The discussion ended as members began asking about responsibility for damage-related costs such as squirrel-related outages.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
- Amelia Tebow for the record on behalf of the Nevada Department of Education.
- of those assessments.
- And I appreciate the intent of the bill to reduce the load of testing.
- And as a WCSD rep, I am part of the association of school superintendents.
- Yeah, I so I'm in the school of thought of interims too, so that teaching...
Bills:
AB386
Keywords:
AB386, Washoe County School District, reading assessment, literacy, elementary school, pupil assessment, statewide assessment, alternative assessment, reading proficiency, standards-based testing, valid and reliable test, State Board of Education, Department of Education, pilot program, school testing, assessment equivalency, education grant, Nevada education, NRS 388.157, school accountability
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Const. Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs (3-12-24)
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations (1-16-24)
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection (1-11-24)
Keywords:
KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHGulNf45Mw, 2026-06-21T07:17:05+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:01:00 – Roll Call Attendance
00:02:20 – Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
00:49:55 – Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, & Judiciary (2-9-21)
Keywords:
KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4zPofSYzbQ, 2026-06-21T07:16:57+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Roll Call 00:37
Testimony from Acting Commissioner of Kentucky State Police 01:34
Testimony from KY Association of Court Clerks 28:08, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This is kind of a pet peeve of mine, because some of y'all know me as an appellate attorney, which is
- take care of most of those things.
- It's the same type of motive, it's the same type of intent, that sort of thing.
- Because of the nature of these types of offenses and the fact that these perpetrators commit the same
- And we have hundreds of years of precedent in this country, these United States of America.
Bills:
HB207, HB235, HB324, HB449, HB463, HB502, HB 1121, HB1445, HB1465, HB1778, HB1977, HB2000, HB2066, HB2596, HB207, HB235
Keywords:
child protection, sexual offenses, obscenity laws, visual material, anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, robots, criminal offenses, sexually explicit material, minors, artificial intelligence, sexually explicit, doll, mannequin, robot, law enforcement, healthcare, insurance, affordable care, access
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- First of all, we want to welcome everyone who's here today in support or opposition.
- We are convening, of course, this morning at 10:30. We also have a session beginning.
- So we will resume our hearing as soon as possible after we leave the floor, according to the terms of
- A couple of other things, members: we've got a bill that... Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. What bill?
- That we vote on are consistent and meet a pattern that is relative to the severity of the offense.
Bills:
HB207, HB235, HB324, HB449, HB463, HB502, HB 1121, HB1445, HB1465, HB1778, HB1977, HB2000, HB2066, HB2596, HB207, HB235
Keywords:
child protection, sexual offenses, obscenity laws, visual material, anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, robots, criminal offenses, sexually explicit material, minors, artificial intelligence, sexually explicit, doll, mannequin, robot, law enforcement, healthcare, insurance, affordable care, access
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- Crews had to write the date on the patch repairs of concrete because there were so many to track.
- Crews had to write the date on the patch repairs of concrete because there were so many to track.
- some of the existing backlog that we have.
- And so our system is not in a state of good repair at the moment.
- on behalf of the City of Wenatchee.
Bills:
HB2306
Keywords:
transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 43
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- and the heartbeat of our communities.
- Welcome to your House of work. Welcome to your House of Representatives.
- </c> rainy um weather today, but because of rainy um weather today, but because of the<00:04:01.840><
- </c> us today and welcome to your House of us today and welcome to your House of Representatives.
- </c> Seeing none, we'll turn to the order of Seeing none, we'll turn to the order of the<00:04:31.480
Bills:
SB3136, SB2521, SB2851, SB3154, SB3262, SB2387, SB3001, SB2818, SB2972, SB2372, SB2108, SB888, SB3320, SB2798, SB2110, SB3007, SB2615, SB2095, SB2101, SB3138, SB2756, SB3229, SB2969, SB3286, SB3238, SB2557, SB3140, SB2014, SB3097, SB3096, SB3069, SB99, SB2930, SB2268, SB2543, SB3022, SB3109, SB3215, SB3152, SB3156, SB3234, SB3053, SB3067, SB2673, SB411, SB2041, SB2919, SB2532, SB2152, SB2721, SB2446, SB2601, SB2239, SB2804, SB3324, SB2802, SB2577, SB2320, SB2706, SB2595, SB2781, SB2961, SB2433, SB2657, SB2340, SB3045, SB3203, SB2861, SB3245, SB2803, SB3204, SB3025, SB2138, SB2645, SB3082, SB2109, SB2261, SB3332, SB2811, SB2567, SB2125, SB2866, SB83, SB874, SB2386, SB3137, SB3132, SB2175, SB2272, SB2271, SB847, SB3302, SB2089, SB2102, SB2050, SB2694, SB2487, SB2061, SB709, SB3083, SB2151, SB2852, SB2471, SB2568, SB2253, SB2697, SB2429, SB2929, SB3032, SB2057, SB148, SB2353, SB2075, SB2907, SB2074, SB3219, SB3218, SB2367, SB3048, SB17, SB3253, SB2376, SB3103, SB2999, SB3255, SB1166, SB3157, SB2698, SB3029, SB2146, SB2470, SB3040, SB3076, SB2575, SB3294, SB2438, SB2530, SB2688
Keywords:
lead-free, lead in drinking water, drinking water, water infrastructure, public water system, plumbing, pipe fittings, solder, flux, fixtures, cast iron pipe repair, nonpotable water, Safe Drinking Water Act, Department of Health, water quality, lead exposure, lead contamination, water utilities, backflow preventer, fire hydrant
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Apr 9, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 42
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Takayama, Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure of introducing two of my staff members in
- </c> stand and welcome to our House of stand and welcome to our House of Representatives.
- </c> welcome to your House of welcome to your House of Representatives.
- </c> exception of Representative Moriwaki. exception of Representative Moriwaki.
- </c> deliberate avoidance of accountability. deliberate avoidance of accountability.
Bills:
SB3136, SB2521, SB2851, SB3154, SB3262, SB2387, SB3001, SB2818, SB2972, SB2372, SB2108, SB888, SB3320, SB2798, SB2110, SB3007, SB2615, SB2095, SB2101, SB3138, SB2756, SB3229, SB2969, SB3286, SB3238, SB2557, SB3140, SB2014, SB3097, SB3096, SB3069, SB99, SB2930, SB2268, SB2543, SB3022, SB3109, SB3215, SB3152, SB3156, SB3234, SB3053, SB3067, SB2673, SB411, SB2041, SB2919, SB2532, SB2152, SB2721, SB2446, SB2601, SB2239, SB2804, SB3324, SB2802, SB2577, SB2320, SB2706, SB2595, SB2781, SB2961, SB2433, SB2657, SB2340, SB3045, SB3203, SB2861, SB3245, SB2803, SB3204, SB3025, SB2138, SB2645, SB3082, SB2109, SB2261, SB3332, SB2811, SB2567, SB2125, SB2866, SB83, SB874, SB2386, SB3137, SB3132, SB2175, SB2272, SB2271, SB847, SB3302, SB2089, SB2102, SB2050, SB2694, SB2487, SB2061, SB709, SB3083, SB2151, SB2852, SB2471, SB2568, SB2253, SB2697, SB2429, SB2929, SB3032, SB2057, SB148, SB2353, SB2075, SB2907, SB2074, SB3219, SB3218, SB2367, SB3048, SB17, SB3253, SB2376, SB3103, SB2999, SB3255, SB1166, SB3157, SB2698, SB3029, SB2146, SB2470, SB3040, SB3076, SB2575, SB3294, SB2438, SB2530, SB2688
Keywords:
lead-free, lead in drinking water, drinking water, water infrastructure, public water system, plumbing, pipe fittings, solder, flux, fixtures, cast iron pipe repair, nonpotable water, Safe Drinking Water Act, Department of Health, water quality, lead exposure, lead contamination, water utilities, backflow preventer, fire hydrant
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- and what the cost is of being in a state of good repair.
- of maintaining a state of good repair.
- The underfunding of the program has led to numerous closures and repairs due to the presence of disturbed
- of equipment and our backlog of fuel sites that need to be replaced.
- , and also some of the repairs on the bridges as much as we can to help extend the service life of those
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.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Crews had to write the date on the patch repairs of concrete because there were so many to track.
- One of our biggest One of our biggest priorities is the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, one of
- some of the existing backlog that we have.
- And so our system is not in a state of good repair at the moment.
- on behalf of the City of Wenatchee.
Summary:
The Transportation Committee heard a presentation from WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith on the agency’s mission, 2025 accomplishments, and 2026 priorities. Meredith emphasized preservation, safety, emergency response, ferry reliability, culvert replacement, and major projects such as the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge work, North Spokane Corridor, Confluence Parkway, and the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. She highlighted the state’s aging transportation assets, recent storm and flood damage, bridge strikes, and the need for additional preservation funding, including the governor’s proposed $1 billion investment in Washington State Ferries and continued work on the World Cup and future regional growth planning. Members asked about ferry service disruptions, rising IBR costs, staffing needs, aviation assets, and bridge-strike certainty tied to the Coast Guard’s upcoming decision on bridge clearance requirements.
The committee then received a briefing on HB 2306, the governor’s supplemental transportation budget, which totals $16.7 billion and increases the enacted budget by about $1.2 billion, with most of the increase directed to WSDOT capital spending. OFM staff said the proposal is driven by preservation, maintenance, and ferry needs, and relies on about $3.1 billion in bonding against transportation revenues, while staying below the Treasurer’s coverage ratio. The proposal includes $2 billion for preservation, $164 million for paving this summer, $756 million for paving over 10 years, $250 million for maintenance, $150 million for preserving existing ferries, $15 million for Lower Columbia River dredging, and smaller investments for WSP communications, DOL access, and local road grants. Committee members asked about debt service, remaining bonding capacity, and the impact of office closures and ferry service reductions.
Public testimony was largely supportive of the governor’s budget, especially its preservation and ferry investments. Local officials and associations backed ferry funding, local road grants, pavement and bridge preservation, and the Columbia River dredging match. Several speakers urged more support for cities and counties, while rail and transit advocates asked for more rail capital funding and less highway expansion. One ferry advocate criticized the cost of hybrid-electric vessel maintenance compared with diesel, and another witness warned against a pay-per-mile tax. The hearing ended without a vote, and the chair announced a short caucus before adjournment.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Rules REVISED: Links Added Apr 28th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Administrative Rules
Transcript Highlights:
- There were a couple of adjustments to that, which we will address in some of these other resolutions.
- HTR1092 is one of the items that we pulled out of the business and commerce.
- Outright subversion of the APA at worst.
- The amendment is essentially pulling out one of the rules of one of our committee members, and I don't
- It had no provision for what the standard of best interests of the state, and then they would then be
Keywords:
administrative rules, rule approval, joint resolution, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Liquified Petroleum Gas Board, water resources, wildlife conservation, tourism, zoning commission, energy regulation, agricultural regulation, agency rules, permanent rules, state agencies, Oklahoma Legislature, business and commerce, professional licensing
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh while a lot of a lot of chairs Uh while a lot of a lot of chairs appreciate<00:01:55.200><c> your<
- Uh I know intent of of this measure.
- </c> pool of of shortage of drivers. Okay. pool of of shortage of drivers. Okay.
- </c> lot of money. lot of money.
- Um, and a lot of is because of the design of our contract.
Keywords:
charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Mar 18th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- of probation or suspension of sentence for an offender who commits either battery of a dating partner
- the age of 17 that depicts nudity. official intelligence picture of a victim under the age of 17 that
- It's a local office of the Vera Institute of Justice.
- And even to your admission that currently we have a lot of backlogs, I think it’s common sense that it
- Yes, but I wouldn’t agree that extending the amount of time would defeat the issue of backlog.
Keywords:
HB 36, Act 780, Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District, juvenile justice, juveniles, Evangeline Parish, regional district, board of commissioners, commission membership, Louisiana juvenile law, R.S. 15:1109, R.S. 15:1109.1, parish governance, district boundaries, local government, HB 52, Act 192, Louisiana criminal procedure, misdemeanor jury trial, six-person jury
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Apr 9th, 2025
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- There's a lot of John Smith's in Dallas Texas several of them have the same date of birth a lot of David
- of.
- No, what's your understanding of the of that of the chart behind the dead to contact charge?
- For the citizens of the state of Texas.
- of their duties because of this?
Bills:
HB2034, HB2436, HB3010, HB3033, HB3138, HB3177, HB3426, HB3686, HB3858, HB4176, HB4257, HB4264, HB4804, HCR98
Keywords:
groundwater, foreign ownership, national security, water permits, environmental health, deadly conduct, firearm, recklessness, peace officer, prosecution, Penal Code, Texas laws, disaster recovery, infrastructure, rural communities, grants, state funding, emergency management, HB 3033, Texas Department of Public Safety
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- of approximately 5,300 untested cases... ...sexual assault kit backlog, which dropped from a high of
- ...and we've gotten a backlog taken care of, well, kind of. We did in the last few months.
- and um where are we on that currently and we've gotten a backlog taken care of well kind of we did in
- As of today, we have 118 cases that are backlogged. Backlog is considered anything over 90 days.
- Those are for mitigation projects and repair, but a lot of that ends up as you repair these facilities
Bills:
SB 1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests.
Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand.
DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 087 Part 2 Apr 11th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the</c> payment of the expenses of the payment of the expenses of the executive,<00:06:14.160><c> legislative
- ,</c> departments of the state of Colorado, departments of the state of Colorado, and<00:06:16.080><c
- I-25 south of on the east side of I-25 south of Pueblo.
- 1.6 million acres of land taken out of 1.6 million acres of land taken out of production,<00:39:15.359
- </c> of the House of Representatives. of the House of Representatives.