Transcript Highlights:

• On any given year, over 40,000 people throughout the country die on public roads.
• , we have actually seen that we are making a marked impact on road safety.
• We have actually seen that we are making a marked impact on road safety.
• Those are paid rides a week on public roads.
• They want to be on the road. A lot of these folks are over 50.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When it's on public roads, it knows exactly where it is.
• Those are paid rides a week on public roads.
• Those are paid rides a week on public roads.
• They want to be on the road. A lot of these folks are over 50.
• But I also recognize that... and deaths on our nation's roads.

Summary: The committee held a work session on autonomous vehicles, beginning with an overview from the Washington State Transportation Commission on the state’s five-year AV work group. The commission described its 2018 legislative mandate, the 35-member executive committee and seven subcommittees, and the resulting 29 recommendations and “roadmap to the future.” The presentation emphasized six policy “building blocks” for Washington: agency readiness, public outreach, equity, safety, testing and pilots, and a path to deployment. It also noted current Washington law requires AV testing companies to self-certify with the Department of Licensing, carry $5 million in liability insurance, report collisions and violations, and notify local law enforcement before testing; three companies are currently certified. State regulators from California and Arizona then outlined their AV frameworks. California described its long-running permit system for testing with and without a safety driver and for commercial deployment, its current rulemaking to expand use cases to heavy-duty trucks and passenger shuttles, and new requirements for mileage, operational assessments, and more detailed crash and incident reporting. California also said it is creating a new enforcement tool allowing citations to be issued to manufacturers for moving violations by AVs. Arizona described its executive-order-based approach, later codified by statute, which allows testing and driverless operations through self-certification, law enforcement interaction plans, quarterly meetings with companies, and reporting of crashes or near misses; Arizona also said it tracks crashes monthly and has not recorded fatalities attributed to AVs. Industry representatives from Waymo, Zoox, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that AVs can improve safety, accessibility, and mobility while creating jobs. They described extensive sensor systems, community outreach, first-responder engagement, and current operations in multiple cities. Waymo cited more than 127 million rider-only miles and said its data show large reductions in injury-causing and pedestrian crashes; Zoox said it operates in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle and stressed its purpose-built electric robotaxi and local jobs; AVIA said its members have driven more than 145 million autonomous miles and that 26 states now expressly authorize driverless operations. Members asked about public education, crash and fatality tracking, enforcement, weather, school zones, first-responder interactions, and labor impacts. Labor and public-safety witnesses from the Teamsters, firefighters, and driver unions opposed commercial AV deployment without stronger safeguards. They argued Washington should not be an unregulated testing ground, especially for heavy trucks and hazardous materials, and warned of job losses for drivers, taxi and rideshare workers, and related occupations. Firefighters and driver representatives raised concerns about AVs interfering with emergency scenes, blocking responders, and creating risks in dynamic roadway incidents. Committee members also asked for comparisons to human-driven vehicles, data on citations and crashes, and more information on how AVs interact with pedestrians, first responders, and workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allowing off-road vehicles to operate on public roads without these critical safety features sends mixed
• as opposed to off-road?
• But the default would be that they would be legal on the road.
• Some of them even only allow a UTV to go a max of 50 on a road.
• Lake Road in Orange County to be designated as Harris Rosen Way.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered two bills. The first, CS for SB 88 by Senator Wright, would create a framework for local governments to allow or prohibit utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed roads, define UTV equipment and driver requirements, and make violations noncriminal traffic infractions. An amendment was adopted to correct the insurance requirement to match automobile-style minimums of $10,000 personal injury and $10,000 property damage liability. Testimony on SB 88 was divided. The Florida Justice Association and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association opposed the bill, arguing UTVs are designed for off-road use, do not meet federal safety standards, and could increase crash risk on public roads; Honda’s letter was cited as opposing road use. Supporters, including the sponsor and agencies waiving in support, argued the bill would address an existing loophole, provide insurance and licensing requirements, and help rural users and law enforcement by creating a clear legal pathway. Senators raised concerns about nighttime visibility, taillight spacing, speed limits, and whether the bill should be more restrictive, but the committee ultimately voted to report CS for SB 88 favorably. The committee then heard SB 274 by Senator Arrington, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orange County as Harris Rosen Way in honor of hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. The sponsor and several senators praised Rosen’s business success, philanthropy, and support for education, cancer research, veterans, and the Central Florida community. There was no opposition, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> on the side of the road or in the road on the side of the road or in the road uh<00:07:35.000><c>
• road uh road<00:25:44.640><c> uh</c> road uh road uh surface<00:25:46.200><c> data,</c><00:25:47.320>
• </c> build that road. build that road.
• roads.
• <c> to</c> the county roads, county paved roads to the county roads, county paved roads to the the the

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the local road and larger city.
• </c> about the local bridge and local road about the local bridge and local road improvement<00:35:14.240
• Road bridge money can continue on.
• Road bridge money can continue on. on. Road bridge money can continue on.
• </c><00:45:24.160><c> and</c> day-to-day funding for roads and day-to-day funding for roads and bridges

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:42.680><c> I</c> interest in regulating private road I interest in regulating private road
• And in the spring, if you come in and you’re going to build that road and the new house and the road
• And in the spring, if you come in and you’re going to build that road and the new house and the road
• And in the spring, if you come in and you’re going to build that road and the new house and the road
• To build that road and the new house, and the road is soft and you damage the road bringing in a big

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that I have knowledge of private road law, private roads, trails, and ways. private roads, trails, and
• </c><00:36:36.400><c> And</c> roads and trails. And roads and trails.
• </c><00:40:35.320><c> And</c> close the road. And close the road.
• My private road starts at the end of the town road and runs for over 2,000 feet.
• road.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:33.240><c> more</c> compare Wisconsin tabs to roads more compare Wisconsin tabs to roads more
• Roads are expensive.
• </c><00:31:59.080><c> I</c><00:31:59.160><c> think</c> to fix our roads. I think to fix our roads.
• Roads are going to be a real problem. Roads are expensive. expensive. expensive.
• </c><00:32:15.760><c> in</c> because we weren't keeping our roads in because we weren't keeping our roads

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As it comes to rural roads, in the near term, we don't expect to be operating on rural roads.
• In fact, I'd be happier with this on the road. I would like to share the road with.
• In fact, I'd be happier with this on the road.
• But we want to see our roads safer.
• you all want to see the roads safer.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> maintain the state's roads and bridges. maintain the state's roads and bridges.
• Is that for new roads being built completely new roads, or is that repairing roads as well?
• , that is for our highway system, the new roads or improvements of roads.
• roads.
• </c> uh or improving roads versus new roads. uh or improving roads versus new roads.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He said many of these devices are designed for toll roads.
• , while this bill concerns county, city, and county-city roads.
• Before was the little bitty road.
• But the reality is we do have road signs.
• But we need to ensure that we have safe roads.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• essential in helping us modernize our infrastructure, support our municipal partners, and make our roads
• essential in helping us modernize our infrastructure, support our municipal partners, and make our roads
• An additional $100 million will be allocated based exclusively on local road mileage.
• The one we chose for the extra $100 million—to do road miles only—reflected a number of things.
• boss with maybe three people to work on 60 miles of road, it's that road boss that has to work at night

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

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, State Assets, and Capital Expenditures held its first public hearing on House Bill 4257, a transportation bonding bill. The administration testified in support, describing the bill as a $1.185 billion authorization: $300 million for Chapter 90 municipal road funding and $885 million for statewide transportation capital programs. Officials said the bill would increase municipal aid by 50%, with $200 million distributed under the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million based solely on road mileage to better help rural communities. They also highlighted $500 million for bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management, $200 million for culverts and small bridges, and $185 million for congestion, safety, ADA, sidewalk, and multimodal improvements. Committee members asked about how municipalities would apply, how the road-mile formula would affect rural towns, and how the bill would interact with federal funding uncertainty and debt financing. Administration witnesses explained that projects would be administered through MassDOT district offices and Grant Central, that the bill would not backfill rescinded federal funds, and that the proposal would likely use special obligation bonds backed by Fair Share revenues to reduce pressure on the Commonwealth’s general obligation debt limit. Members also pressed the administration on the shift from general obligation to special obligation financing and on whether the Chapter 90 increase keeps pace with inflation. Administration officials said the special obligation structure would be credit-rated separately and was intended to expand available capital without affecting the GO bond cap, while acknowledging that the Commonwealth’s debt portfolio would grow. They said the Chapter 90 increase would roughly restore purchasing power lost since 2012, though construction inflation has outpaced general inflation. Several members and witnesses emphasized the importance of the road-mile formula for rural communities and the need for technical assistance for small towns. The Massachusetts Municipal Association testified in strong support of the bill, calling Chapter 90 and the new infrastructure authorizations critical for cities and towns facing federal uncertainty and rising costs. The Massachusetts Aggregate and Asphalt Pavement Association also supported the bill, citing the importance of the funding for road and bridge work, the construction season, and the industry’s economic impact. A committee member asked about asphalt price inflation, and the witness said liquid asphalt costs rose sharply after COVID, including increases of around 20% in some years. At the end of the hearing, the chair said members would receive a poll by email to move the bill out quickly, and the committee then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember, Representative Green, that there's only one speed limit in those roads currently?
• There's also more inertia in that mass coming down the road as it moves faster and faster.
• Representative Green, let's not go down that road anymore of another bill.
• Tired of driving down the road and having one that sees a car on an on-ramp a mile down the road.
• But I'm all about providing a safe road for everybody, and this helps provide safety.

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from February 16, 18, and 24, 2026. It then heard House Bill 664, which would remove differential speed limits for commercial vehicles and make truck speed limits consistent with posted limits for other vehicles. Representative Pickett argued the bill was about reducing speed variability and related crash risk, not setting a new speed limit. Trucking industry witnesses testified that heavier trucks need longer stopping distances, many fleets govern their trucks below posted limits, and the bill would not materially change truck speeds but could increase safety risks if some trucks went faster. Other members raised concerns about triples, urban-area language, and whether the bill could effectively open the door to higher truck speeds. After debate, the committee voted 10-6 to send HB 664 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 667, which would remove the statutory requirement that Idaho DMV offer non-domiciled CDLs and instead give the department discretion. Representative Handy said the bill was a response to recent crashes involving out-of-state CDL holders and would let Idaho step back while federal rules settle. With no opposing testimony, the committee quickly passed the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. House Bill 717 followed, proposing a $75 fee for new residents who fail to register vehicles within 30 days and for vehicles not renewed after expiration, with an exemption for vehicles not in use. Representative Mickelsen said the bill would ensure new residents help pay for roads and infrastructure. The Idaho Association of Counties and Highway Districts asked for amendments so the fee would go to the highway distribution fund rather than the state highway fund and to clarify the exemption language to include local roads. The sponsor agreed to the amendment request, and the committee sent HB 717 to general orders. Finally, House Bill 716 was heard, which updates highway distribution account language and increases the local bridge inspection fund from $175,000 to $300,000 to match current costs and secure federal matching funds. After brief questions, the committee passed HB 716 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• road, you can see the steepness of the bank.
• And if you come out here to Kuna Road or to 10-Mile Road and try to run from the freeway north to the
• Well, the road that comes down to it has a hill and a turn, and he was hit on that road.
• And the safe place to get off the road, if you went on Highway 10-Mile Road, the only place you could
• And that's a four-lane road.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee approved the minutes from February 12 and February 17, 2026, then considered several transportation-related bills. House Bill 576, which adjusts the ICARs fund to clarify that reimbursements are for Idaho residents or those who were residents at the time of vehicle purchase, was advanced to the floor with a due pass recommendation after brief discussion about whether out-of-state purchasers should be excluded. House Bill 577, which would eliminate the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years and instead require replacement only when unreadable, was also sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation; members raised questions about law enforcement enforceability and prior concerns about nonprofit revenue from plate replacements, and Senator Hart was recorded as a nay vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1224, which would create an exception for slow-moving farm, construction, logging, and similar equipment when no safe or reasonable turnout exists to pull off the road. The sponsor and supporters from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, and a farmer testified that the bill responds to real safety issues involving oversized equipment and traffic buildup, and a proposed amendment would align the language with existing code. On motion of Senator Adams, the bill was sent to the 14th order of business for possible amendment. Finally, Senate Bill 1325 proposed a new specialty license plate to benefit Idaho State Police salaries, with proceeds directed to a specific law enforcement fund. Senator Denharttog said the plate would be plain white with black lettering and that it was intended to provide a modest funding source amid broader ISP pay concerns. Senators noted the larger salary issue, but the committee ultimately moved the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Adams was recorded as a nay vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the net of both township road and bridge and turnbacks.
• </c><00:18:21.159><c> to</c> truck travels down different roads to truck travels down different roads
• </c> provides funds for a system of roads provides funds for a system of roads that<00:22:00.480><c>
• </c> construction and maintenance of roads construction and maintenance of roads this<00:40:56.920><c
• </c><00:43:20.480><c> and</c> their fair share of towards roads and their fair share of towards roads

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, it does suggest that there would be, under Section 5D, certain roads that would be open, but roads
• </c> roads that would be open but um roads roads that would be open but um roads and<00:34:21.760><c>
• Is that 10 miles of road?
• Tricky are in the road, man.
• those roads or trails Class 6 roads, or ones that were historically public ways?

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but also on-road in some cases, right?
• </c> but but anyways it's it's only for roads but but anyways it's it's only for roads up<00:10:20.800
• off-road off-road vehicles<00:12:15.399><c> um</c><00:12:16.279><c> and</c><00:12:16.480><c> whether
• roads.
• </c> to have roads we want to open up roads to have roads we want to open up roads within<00:34:59.880

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee heard testimony on House Bill 375, which would allow municipalities to designate certain road segments for ATV travel, create maps and signage for those routes, set seasonal limits, and require certain equipment on ATVs such as lights, a horn, flashers, and directional signals. The sponsor, Rep. Dan Maguire, said the bill is intended to support tourism and give towns a structured, optional way to permit ATV use on roads, not to override existing uses. Members asked about possible overlap with agricultural vehicle rules, golf carts, speed limits, and whether the bill could allow ATV use on busier roads or expressways; the sponsor said he did not intend to interfere with existing lawful uses and believed golf carts would only be included if they met the relevant statutory requirements. NHDOT State Maintenance Engineer Alan Hennessy said the department had concerns with language exempting municipalities and the Bureau of Trails from the permitting process, arguing that the existing permit system provides needed review, public notice, and signage requirements. He also raised questions about road funding and maintenance if ATVs were allowed on state highways. Fish and Game Captain Michael Eastman testified that his commission opposed the bill as written, citing concerns about the ATV definition, the distinction between ATVs, UTVs, and other OHRVs, and the potential impact on state highways and road maintenance. He said towns can already open roads to OHRV use under existing law, and he noted that accident data for road use would generally be handled by local police or State Police rather than Fish and Game. Craig Reny, chief of the Bureau of Trails, said the current Bureau of Trails/DOT permit process for highway crossings and connectors works well and is used to ensure safety through engineering review. He said his bureau was not taking a position on the bill but wanted to clarify that existing procedures already address many of the issues the bill appears to cover. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Support definitely helps keep our roads in good order.
• If it occurs on a state road outside of a construction project...
• On our NM Roads, we just relaunched our NM Roads application.
• You know, I've got Road 603 that's... Been a pain in all of our butts.
• And so it's always because it's a shared road with county and state.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a quirky niche that we have: roads, private roads, Class Six roads, road maintenance agreements,
• Someone has on a Class Six road, they're on a Class Six road or a private road, you have to comply with
• It's a quirky niche that we have: roads, private roads, Class Six roads, road maintenance agreements,
• Someone has on a Class Six road, they're on a Class Six road or a private road, you have to comply with
• Someone has on a Class Six road, they're on a Class Six road or a private road, you have to comply with

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:25.200><c> It's</c> slide off the road. Who shows up? It's slide off the road.
• </c> side of the road. We're to move over. side of the road. We're to move over.
• And I think road has been striped?
• </c> for striping of roads. Is that correct? for striping of roads. Is that correct?
• I mean, that's over on the roads.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources. The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.