Transcript Highlights:

• And I will also note that if a project is $100 million or more, which any route project is going to be
• is an urban infill project.
• It simply says that projects, that no project alternative, which is to say, hey, you know, we're not
• It's different... ...between a specific project, like say you're proposing a housing project, and the
• project, so the no-project alternative isn't necessarily a real valuable exercise there.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum established after a brief delay and first adopted two consent items, SB 423 and SB 581. The committee then heard SB 71, which extends and expands an existing CEQA exemption for sustainable transportation projects, including transit, bike, pedestrian, microtransit, paratransit, ferry, and shuttle projects. The author and supporters said the exemption has sped delivery of climate-friendly projects statewide; some members raised concerns about the bill’s Tier 4 diesel rail provisions and right-of-way language, but the bill was passed out as amended to Appropriations. The committee next heard SB 614 on carbon dioxide pipeline safety. The bill would direct the State Fire Marshal to establish safety standards for intrastate CO2 pipelines, using federal draft rules as a starting point while allowing California to add stronger protections. Supporters argued the state must act because federal rulemaking has stalled, while environmental justice groups opposed the bill unless amended, citing siting risks, leak hazards, and the need for more specific setback and planning-zone protections. The bill advanced on a due-pass vote to Appropriations. Members also approved SB 304, a district bill to temporarily lift public trust use restrictions for a portion of Jack London Square in Oakland so the Port can lease the land for broader uses under State Lands Commission oversight and annual reporting. Supporters said the measure would help address high vacancy and revitalize the waterfront; the bill passed with no opposition. The committee then heard SB 830, which creates a CEQA streamlining process for Sutter Health’s new Emeryville hospital campus to replace services lost with the closure of Alta Bates in Berkeley; supporters emphasized access to care, seismic deadlines, and job creation, and the bill passed out as amended to the Judiciary Committee. Finally, the committee took up SB 486, a higher-education planning bill that would require UC and CSU enrollment to be incorporated into regional sustainable communities plans and would limit certain CEQA no-project alternative analyses for campus long-range plans; supporters said it would better align university growth with housing and transportation planning, while opponents warned it could weaken accountability for student housing impacts. The bill was left open for further work and then advanced as amended to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at how fast we're growing, the size of the projects, the complexity of the projects.
• That is a multi-year project that we've undertaken, a $51 million project.
• But with projects that we have on the horizon, for example, capacity projects like Airside D, which adds
• And the next question I had was: a lot of projects, you each talked about the amount of projects going
• So I don't have the exact percentages, because it does vary from project to project, but we do have a

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider two bills and then held a lengthy discussion on Florida airport infrastructure. SB 246, presented by Senator Rodriguez on behalf of Senator Gruters, would authorize a UFC specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the UFC Foundation’s charitable work. A UFC Foundation representative described community beneficiaries and said the plate would help raise funds for local charities. With no questions or debate, the committee voted SB 246 favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7012, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles public-records exemption bill that would remove the October 1, 2026 repeal date for certain active investigatory records. Senator Avila moved to submit it as a committee bill, there was no objection, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The remainder of the meeting focused on the Comprehensive Airport Infrastructure Program. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue outlined Florida’s aviation system, the department’s airport funding programs, and the state’s role as a financial partner in safety, capacity, preservation, and economic development projects. He said Florida has 128 public-use airports, 21 commercial-service airports, and four large-hub airports, and noted that airport funding is largely supported by gas-tax-related revenues, with additional support from documentary stamp revenue and other fees. He also discussed the new airport infrastructure planning requirements created last session and said all required airports had submitted plans. Committee members asked about the loss of aviation fuel tax revenue, workforce development, project timelines, and how FDOT prioritizes funding, with Perdue emphasizing safety, preservation, capacity, economic return, and matching funds. A panel from Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa international airports then described major capital programs, passenger growth, and funding needs. The airports highlighted terminal expansions, parking, baggage systems, airfield rehabilitation, people movers, and other modernization projects, along with the importance of maintaining aging facilities while accommodating growth. They said FDOT and FAA grants are helpful but increasingly insufficient for runway and taxiway costs, and several panelists said passenger facility charges and other revenue tools are important to future self-sufficiency. Members also asked about workforce shortages, small-business participation, landing-fee negotiations, and non-aeronautical revenue. The panel said workforce challenges are most acute in trades and maintenance, small-business programs are active at each airport, and landing fees are negotiated with airlines to keep airports competitive while funding needed improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:46.240><c> Asset</c> project. So that's a direct ratio. Asset project.
• </c> idea uh to get all projects sponsored. idea uh to get all projects sponsored.
• Equipment that our our projects.
• You can apply for more than one project, but each project can't be more than $500,000.
• </c> the projects no more than 500,000. the projects no more than 500,000.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum and first received a maintenance update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials James Ballinger and John Moore. They described how repeated disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and ice storms, have strained routine road maintenance and forced crews to focus on emergency response, snow and ice removal, pothole patching, ditching, signal repairs, mowing, striping, sign work, and other day-to-day upkeep. They said snow and ice costs have averaged about $60 million to $61 million annually in recent years, disaster response has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars over five years, and the cabinet often must carry those costs until FEMA or FHWA reimbursement arrives. They also said maintenance work is increasingly contracted out because of staffing and resource limits, and that competitive pay is needed to retain employees and contractors for around-the-clock emergency work. Members then discussed traffic roundabouts and other intersection designs. Senator Hickden asked about their cost savings and safety benefits compared with traffic signals, and cabinet staff said they would provide life-cycle cost figures later. They emphasized that roundabouts and related designs reduce serious injuries and fatalities, with serious injuries down roughly 70% to 80% and fatalities over 90% in their experience. Chair Douglas and others asked about roundabout sizing for trucks and farm equipment, and staff explained that designers tailor the inscribed diameter to local traffic needs and context. The committee also briefly discussed red-light running and traffic-light cameras, with members stressing the safety risks of drivers ignoring signals. The committee adopted the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and voice vote. It then heard from Sarah Jackson and Matthew Cole on the Real ID and driver licensing transition. They said the cabinet has expanded from almost no regional offices to 35, grown driver licensing staff from 89 to 400, and now issues about 1.3 million credentials annually. They reported improvements in office capacity, queue management, staffing, and compensation, including added workstations, new or expanded offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and the use of contract staff. They said statewide average wait times have fallen to just under 30 minutes, and Kentucky’s Real ID adoption rate has risen to 42.9%. Members asked follow-up questions about driver testing and CDL scheduling. The presenters said all permit and CDL testing is coordinated through Kentucky State Police, with written tests available in most regional offices and CDL testing at a smaller number of KSP locations. Senator Douglas asked when the driver testing requirements were last updated, and the presenters said that was set by KSP. The discussion ended with additional questions about which regional offices lack KSP testing presence, but no further action was taken before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• , including housing projects.
• And these projects aren't easy, and we know that some of those who are pushing for these projects might
• The project, and they still have to sign off on the project.
• Like, there's impacts from doing the project. There's also impacts from not doing the project.
• So we're dropping below that 3,000 to 500 for anything that is a project in a forest or a project to

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• As we put our dollars toward critical infrastructure projects, we need to make sure that those projects
• going to streamline the approval process for housing projects.
• require... ...go at this alone, and that some projects require a regional solution, and many projects
• They're complicated projects.
• COVID and supply chain challenges made those projects and other projects more expensive and more challenging

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to introduce our new senior projects manager, Mr.
• year 25, as well as talk about a couple of the project.
• Um, close out projects on a process level.
• Here is your list of our current active projects.
• Lastly, we have HP 450, Capital Ali projects.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> drive</c> The selected projects also drive The selected projects also drive system-wide<00:04:21.760
• ><c> a</c><00:05:19.160><c> model</c><00:05:19.480><c> for</c> project will serve as a model for project
• </c> project for every corner of our state. project for every corner of our state.
• That's our next project.
• </c> or not pursuing the project at all. or not pursuing the project at all.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:04.000><c> and</c> project is an acquisition project and project is an acquisition project
• But it's an interesting project.
• One of the other cool projects is the Spring Road Conservation Project. That's subdivision 5B.
• One of the other cool projects is the Spring Road Conservation Project. That's subdivision 5B.
• </c><01:20:46.760><c> and</c> projects are they score the projects and projects are they score the projects

Bills: HF1250

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, small routine projects must go through the same procurement process as a large-scale project.
• As far as the issue of the project labor agreement, this bill actually aligns with current project labor
• To participate in a PLA project, they just sign a project-specific PLA for that job only and agree to
• , and prime projects made up of the following: With 13 covered projects and prime projects made up of
• The project opponents are trying to litigate it again, and this is going to jam up the project, cost

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard a full agenda of bills covering port procurement, housing litigation, special district audits, cemetery district governance, county discretionary funding transparency, labor standards in density bonus projects, transit planning, and homeowner code enforcement. SB 983 would let the Port of San Diego use job order contracting for smaller repair and maintenance work; supporters said it would speed repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction definitions and project labor agreement language. SB 1256 sought to limit repeated litigation against the Harmony Grove Village South housing project; supporters framed it as a response to duplicative lawsuits delaying housing, while opponents argued it could weaken wildfire and subdivision-map review. SB 992 would make permanent and expand a small special district audit flexibility, and SB 1115 would give Tulare County a narrower way to remove dysfunctional cemetery district trustees rather than taking over the district entirely. Both drew support from county and district representatives, with CSDA opposing SB 1115 but continuing talks on amendments. The committee also considered SB 1193, which would impose transparency and conflict-of-interest guardrails on Alameda County discretionary funding. The author and supporters said the bill responds to grand jury findings and would require clearer public reporting and board approval, while Alameda County argued it already has strong public processes and that the bill is overly restrictive. SB 1383 would clarify that density bonus projects cannot use incentives and concessions to waive locally adopted labor standards; labor groups supported it as protecting worker safety and wages, while housing interests were not present in opposition during the hearing. SB 1361 would prevent local governments from undermining planned transit projects to avoid SB 79 density requirements; LA Metro and labor supported it as protecting transit investment, and the Bay Area Council withdrew opposition. SB 1272, the CASH Act, would give homeowners more time to cure certain non-safety code violations tied to prior owners’ work, with counties and code enforcement groups opposing the introduced version but saying they were working on amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, many on amended or consent motions, with some remaining on call before later final votes were recorded. SB 983, SB 992, SB 1115, SB 1193, SB 1256, SB 1383, SB 1361, and SB 1272 all ultimately received committee approval, while the consent calendar bills SB 1187 and SB 1388 were also adopted. The chair repeatedly noted ongoing negotiations on several measures, especially SB 983, SB 1193, and SB 1272, and members emphasized wildfire safety, transparency, and labor protections as key issues during debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• projects.
• projects.
• projects.
• projects.
• projects.

Summary: The committee held an outcomes review hearing on AB 457 and related farmworker and rural housing policy, with members and witnesses discussing whether recent streamlining laws are actually increasing production. Chair Haney, Assembly Members Soria and Pellerin, and others described the purpose of AB 457 and its predecessor bills AB 1783 and AB 3035: to make farmworker housing easier to build through ministerial approval and other reforms. Witnesses emphasized that farmworkers face severe overcrowding, high rents, long commutes, and limited access to housing in both rural and coastal agricultural regions. The first panel focused on practical barriers and local models. Napa County described its county-owned farmworker centers, which provide nightly lodging, meals, and services, funded by lodger fees, a grower assessment, and state support. Testimony stressed that these centers function as navigation hubs rather than permanent housing, and that stable, inflation-adjusted operating funding, language access, transportation, and local set-asides are critical. United Farm Workers urged that local farmworkers be prioritized over H-2A workers and warned against displacing long-term resident workers. Several witnesses said the biggest barriers remain infrastructure, land costs, local opposition, and insufficient subsidy rather than approval streamlining alone. The second and third panels addressed AB 457’s implementation and broader state funding issues. Santa Clara County said the bill could help on a county-owned Gilroy site, but financing remains the main obstacle. Self-Help Enterprises said AB 457’s expanded geography and project-size rules may help future sites, but rural projects still struggle with water, sewer, and environmental review costs, and with the state’s Super NOFA process, which tends to favor deeper-income projects that do not match farmworker household incomes. HCD reported that CERNA and other programs have increased farmworker housing production in recent years, but witnesses argued that rural regions still receive too little funding, that infrastructure dollars are too fragmented, and that more rural-specific set-asides, local funding incentives, and predictable allocations are needed. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the most mega projects in the country.
• are Turnpike Enterprise projects.
• And so if you look at the life cycle of a project, we have long-range planning, then we have project
• So it couldn't be anything from a really, really big resurfacing project to a capacity project.
• Back in 1980, Reagan was commenting on a project, a mass transit project that cost so much with such

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from Chair LaMarca and members, then received presentations on electric utility planning, transportation infrastructure, and broadband deployment. Public Service Commission staff explained how Florida’s utilities plan for reliability and cost through 10-year site plans, demand forecasting, and economic dispatch. The presentation emphasized Florida’s residential-heavy load, growing EV demand, expanding solar and battery storage, continued reliance on natural gas combined-cycle plants, and the role of nuclear power. Members asked about energy efficiency, rates, renewable options beyond solar, cybersecurity, grid resilience, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactors; the witness said efficiency programs are reviewed every five years, utilities must balance reliability and affordability, and large new loads like data centers generally must pay for their own infrastructure needs. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue described FDOT’s five-year work program, decentralized district structure, and funding mix, noting that the agency is predominantly state-funded and prioritizes maintenance and preservation before expansion. He highlighted record investment levels, major congestion-relief projects, toll-road revenues, seaport and airport partnerships, spaceport investments, workforce and equipment needs, and emerging technology such as advanced air mobility. Members asked about project timing, MPO planning, rail and ferry funding, airport governance, winter storm preparedness, and flooding/sea-level rise; Perdue said faster delivery depends on resources, local governments lead transit operations with FDOT as a capital partner, and coastal and drainage projects are designed around storm surge and resiliency. The Office of Broadband reported on six grant programs supporting infrastructure, community facilities, digital connectivity, and future digital capacity and broadband expansion. Director Leo Garcia said the office has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars across most counties, leveraged significant private investment, and focused heavily on rural areas. He noted that broadband efforts are intended to support telehealth, education, workforce development, and economic growth, and said the state has reduced the number of unserved locations from more than 400,000 to a projected 170,000 after current awards are completed. He also said the office needs additional budget authority for the upcoming digital capacity program and that the larger federal/state broadband deployment program will be used to reach remaining unserved and underserved areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Crown Holdings project in Warren County, the Flash Metals project, which was really a fun project
• I mean 14 different projects and some counties have more than one project.
• </c><00:30:14.320><c> with</c> this project be a mega type project with this project be a mega type project
• </c> make sure we don't lose those projects. make sure we don't lose those projects.
• </c><00:57:07.119><c> I</c> projects. And there's other counties. I projects.

Summary: The committee received an update from Secretary Jeff Noel of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, joined by Matt Wingate and Terry Bradshaw of the Kentucky Association of Economic Developers, on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) and the closing fund. The presentation focused on how KPDI helps communities develop shovel-ready industrial sites by funding infrastructure, engineering, geotechnical work, and other site-preparation costs. Noel emphasized that the program is designed to reduce uncertainty for companies, improve speed to market, and support statewide job creation and investment, especially in rural and eastern Kentucky where development costs are often higher. Testimony highlighted the complexity and expense of preparing sites, with examples of road, water, power, and rock-removal costs, and the importance of third-party evaluation in scoring applications. Noel said the program has 116 total projects statewide, with 20 active projects stemming from pilot efforts and 35 projects already resulting in about 6,381 jobs and $4.4 billion in investment. He cited examples including Crown Holdings, Flash Metals, Phoenix Paper, Pratt Paper, AESC, Sound Elements, Kitchen Foods, Latte, Krueger, Biomass, and Anna Munsman. Bradshaw added that even communities that have not yet landed a project have benefited by building spec buildings or improving access to industrial property. The speakers said the last KPDI round drew $81 million in requests but only $35 million in available funding, and they urged lawmakers to consider whether additional funding or program adjustments are needed. Suggested changes included modestly increasing eligibility or funding flexibility for rural and eastern Kentucky, while maintaining third-party performance metrics, and continuing to prioritize finishing existing parks and creating strong regional sites. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ports have to meet certain criteria for the project to be approved.
• Commissioner Killshaw, thank you for bringing these projects forward.
• So we'll be able to give out $7 million a project year, and then projects moving forward will be able
• So we'll be able to give out seven million a project year.
• And then projects moving forward will be able to apply for up to 20. year um and then projects moving

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met to receive public testimony and act on port priority applications for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 Port Priority Construction and Development Priority Programs. After a roll call showing 18 members present, the committee adopted the March 9, 2026 minutes without objection. Commissioner Andrew Killshaw of the Office of Multimodal Commerce explained the Port Priority Program criteria and presented two applications from the Avoyelles Harbor and Terminal District: a $3.4 million building addition and infrastructure project requesting $2.853 million in state funds, and a $1.5 million Workforce Training Center redevelopment requesting $1.287 million. He said the projects were projected to create 265 jobs and generate substantial state benefits, with very high benefit-cost ratios. Members expressed support for the projects and for strengthening the port program overall. Chairman Boriak moved to approve the applications, and Senator Carter and others discussed the need to increase investment in ports and develop a statewide strategic plan to better compete for federal dollars. DOTD Multimodal Commerce staff, including Molly Bergoin, testified that the program has more than $200 million in backlog, that annual Transportation Trust Fund financing has made it difficult to reduce, and that the department hopes to clear 10 to 12 low-balance projects this year. They also said the request cap had been increased to $7 million per project this year and up to $21 million going forward, and that most projects are proceeding under reimbursement agreements because construction costs have risen sharply. After discussion, the committee voted without objection to accept the port priority applications received through March 1, 2026, for the FY 2027-2028 program. The committee then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for a factory-built project...
• AB 2469 makes the responsibility clear: if a project requires new or enhanced infrastructure, the project
• , specifically bicycle and pedestrian safety projects.
• But the bill assumes that once a project is identified, But the bill assumes that once a project is identified
• That efficiency can make project finances more certain and project delivery faster, all to the benefit

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• . project. project.
• We do a lot of projects that is DCM, maybe a 50-50 mix. Some of those projects are $1,500 projects.
• Some of those projects are $300 million dollar projects.
• We do a lot of projects that is DCM, maybe a 50-50 mix. Some of those projects are $1,500 projects.
• Some of those projects are $300 million dollar projects.

Bills: HB245 , SB16 , SB59 , SB62 , SB79 , SB88 , HB245 , SB16 , SB59 , SB62 , SB79 , SB88

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• For P5 state projects, about $4.1 billion... For P5 state projects, about $4.1 billion.
• P5 for state projects is $4.1 billion... P5 for state projects is $4.1 billion.
• And what the bundled project does is allow those projects to be consolidated into one single project
• So one option, if that project is shovel-ready, is that if a project would...
• So one option, if that project is shovel-ready, is that if a project would...

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB514 , HB593 , HB618 , HB732 , HB908 , HB961 , HB1010

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, senior citizens, homestead exemption, Louisiana Constitution, motor vehicles, local fees, transaction fees, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• It just includes those projects.
• It just includes those projects.
• It just includes those projects.
• It's a wide variety of projects.
• It's a wide variety of projects.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• after the project has passed the 90% design threshold.
• projects are typically overly subscribed.
• know of any cities that don't want projects like this to occur.
• these projects even less feasible.
• up, or the potential of projects coming up.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• :10.560><c> projects</c><00:04:10.920><c> include</c><00:04:11.280><c> roofs</c> request these projects
• This would be the next major project and a series of projects from bonding bills that have funded the
• </c> this project this project the<00:11:01.279><c> second</c><00:11:01.639><c> request</c><00:11:01.959
• </c> concern my thoughts are if a project concern my thoughts are if a project made<00:42:19.559><c>
• Available for project completion?

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed project is $30 million.
• As we approach this project, one of the things I’ve learned about this project and learned about the
• </c> species so as we approach this project species so as we approach this project one<00:10:20.240><
• </c> on affordability and specific project on affordability and specific project types<00:19:21.480><
• </c> Wastewater and drinking water projects Wastewater and drinking water projects in<00:19:58.799><c

Committee: Senate Capital Investment