Transcript Highlights:

• Later, this caused many of our well-traveled roads, gravel roads, to have soft spots, and they got pretty
• And now we’re finding on the road, too. But this was in the road specifically, in Road.
• You can take county general money and use it for county roads, but you cannot take county road money
• But if they have it... ...of course, is road money.
• So they can spend that on roads.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have seen personally the increase in off-road recreation.
• This includes people who use dirt roads. Everybody has to have the same education.
• recreation. ...designated for off-road recreation and in our state parks.
• recreation. ...mandate and program to help off-road recreation.
• We have to ensure that accountability is on our roads.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard six bills. AB 1837 (Gonzalez) would remove the sunset on transit agencies’ authority to use forward-facing cameras to enforce parking violations in bus lanes and at bus stops. The author and supporters from transit agencies, Streets for All, and the California Police Chiefs Association said the program improves bus reliability, safety, and access for riders, especially seniors and people with disabilities. Some members raised concerns about automated enforcement error rates and due process, but the bill was advanced on a due pass motion to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 1944 (Lee), presented by Assemblymember Arreguín, would delay implementation of declining axle-weight limits for zero-emission buses while keeping the existing final cap in place. Supporters, including the California Transit Association and several transit agencies, said heavier batteries are needed for longer-range zero-emission buses and the delay would help agencies comply with clean transit goals. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1599 (Arreguín) would require Caltrans to create a centralized statewide transit stop registry with standardized stop information. Move LA, AARP, Streets for All, and others supported the measure, saying it would improve trip planning, data consistency, and accessibility for riders; the bill also passed to Appropriations. AB 1608 (Wilson) would expand the California High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General’s authority, including hiring and contracting flexibility and a requirement to publish reports with limited confidentiality protections. The author, the Inspector General, and the First Amendment Coalition said the bill would improve oversight and transparency while protecting sensitive information; it passed to Judiciary. AB 1613 (Wilson) would create a mandatory off-highway vehicle safety and stewardship course for access to off-highway lands starting in 2029. Supporters from the off-road community said the bill was developed through stakeholder safety summits and would reduce accidents and protect public lands; it passed to Water, Parks, and Wildlife. AB 1662 (Wilson) would require DMV points for certain offenses that are dismissed through diversion programs, which supporters framed as a needed accountability measure for dangerous driving and opponents from ACLU Cal Action criticized as undermining diversion and harming low-income drivers. The bill passed to Appropriations. Final roll calls showed each bill advancing, with AB 1662 receiving the strongest support and the other measures also moving forward despite some no votes on AB 1837, AB 1944, AB 1608, and AB 1613.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we really need to drill down and take a look at those county roads, city streets, and township roads
• at city streets at those County Roads at city streets at those Township<00:08:01.080><c> roads</c><00
• Are there vulnerable road users there?
• </c> 478 deaths in 2024 on Minnesota roads 478 deaths in 2024 on Minnesota roads and<00:36:46.280><c>
• </c> that uh County state aid and County Road that uh County state aid and County Road system<00:41:44.880

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• line abutted the old road.
• Whose lots, their backyards, abut this county road.
• This county road does not provide access for them at all.
• I have one of my fellow commissioners coming in and out of his precinct barn is a 58,420 road.
• I have one of my fellow commissioners coming in and out of his precinct barn is a 58,420 road.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard several bills, mostly local memorial highway designations and transportation-related regulatory measures. Senator Hinojosa presented SB 1351 to designate part of US 281 in Hidalgo County as the Jose Rodriguez Lua Memorial Highway in honor of a Border Patrol processing coordinator killed by a drunk driver; a family member testified emotionally in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 2245 on bonded titles for vehicles when a lienholder has gone out of business, SB 1568 on animal-friendly specialty license plates with a second “spay, neuter, adopt” plate, SB 2589 on handling closed county roads in Webb County, SB 1104 on allowing large retailers to use one fingerprinted employee of record across multiple Texas locations, SB 1423 naming the Bill Stout Parkway in Longview, and SB 1931 naming part of US 83 the Rodolfo Valdez Memorial Highway. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony or were presented as local measures with no opposition. The committee also took up broader policy bills. SB 215 would create a digital identification program for Texas driver’s licenses and certain other licenses, but the sponsor said he was mainly laying the bill out for discussion and study; testimony was limited and the bill was left pending. SB 2707 would clarify that government entities such as TxDOT and the military remain exempt from fees on oversized/overweight permit authority, though a county commissioner raised questions about road-use impacts and fee revenue. SB 2807 drew the most discussion: it would prevent a motor carrier’s use of safety technology, training, and related practices from being used as evidence that an independent contractor is actually an employee. Supporters said the bill would encourage adoption of safety tools like cameras and braking systems without increasing misclassification risk, while opponents from the trial lawyers’ side warned the wording could conflict with existing labor-code definitions and create litigation. The sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying floor amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on the pending bills. All measures were reported favorably on 6-0 votes, with committee substitutes adopted where applicable. SB 1351, SB 1423, SB 1568, SB 1931, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2707, SB 2807, and SB 2841 were all sent to the full Senate, and several were recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after completing the votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're trying to finally finish phase eight to complete the four-lane road.
• Which is actually operated by the state, yet our local roads connect to it.
• We need to respond to five years down the road, 10 years down the road.
• The county seat is surrounded by city roads. I’m very proud of Shelton as well.
• But AWB and our members strongly support maintaining safe, reliable roads.

Summary: The House Local Government Committee held public hearings on four bills. HB 2174 would allow counties, cities, towns, or the Department of Transportation to designate accident risk zones on roads with repeated crashes, hold a public hearing, conduct engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and use half of traffic fine revenue for safety improvements. The sponsor and local officials from Pasco and Colotis described serious crashes and fatalities on U.S. 12 and U.S. 395 and said the bill could provide a temporary safety tool while long-term fixes are pursued. Testifiers generally supported the concept but raised concerns about liability, implementation, youth penalties, and possible targeted enforcement, especially for motorcyclists; several suggested amendments and the committee discussed possible alignment with safe system practices. HB 2267 would direct the Department of Commerce to create a model urban forest management ordinance, update it every 10 years, provide guidance on tree retention and mitigation, and create a grant program for local governments that adopt or substantially adopt the model. Supporters from Washington Conservation Action, The Nature Conservancy, FutureWise, and the Puget Sound Partnership said trees are important for stormwater, heat reduction, air quality, public health, and climate resilience, and argued the bill could help balance housing growth with canopy protection. Opposition from the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association focused on the grant condition tied to adoption of the model ordinance, concerns that the bill would effectively mandate local policy, and worries that prioritizing tree retention could constrain housing production and increase legal risk. HB 2183 would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027, covering immediate response, long-term mitigation, protection of high-risk populations, tribal coordination, and public education. The sponsor and physicians from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility cited the 2021 heat dome as a deadly disaster that overwhelmed emergency services and killed many people in their homes, arguing counties need coordinated planning for future heat events. Local public health officials supported the goal but asked for amendments to reduce duplication with existing emergency and mitigation plans and to clarify leadership roles; L&I requested that the bill reference existing worker-protection rules for outdoor workers. HB 1529 would let counties perform city roadway striping and paving work without counting it against city public works limits or bidding thresholds, if the county can do the work more cheaply or no bids are received. Supporters from Pasco and the Association of Counties said it would help cities use existing county equipment and crews more efficiently, while contractors and labor groups opposed it, warning about reduced competition, quality and oversight concerns, and the loss of prevailing-wage and small-business opportunities. No votes were taken on any of the bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to support CSHB 4868 to create safer roads for all Texans.
• What this does is if you have a busy road, bicyclists will go to the busy road, hoping they'll catch
• Road and semi trucks were running at 50 miles an hour down the road that my children were riding bicycles
• So, so long as you're a marked highway on the road of a state highway system.
• uh, they can reveal design defects in the roads and I think we need them.

Bills: HB 535 , HB 2120 , HB 2822 , HB 3243 , HB 3457 , HB 3544 , HB 4089 , HB 4192 , HB 4669 , HB 4868 , HB 4955 , HB 5253 , HB 5669 , SB 1371 , SB 1919 , SB 2001

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, traffic safety, municipality, criminal offense, pedestrian safety, traffic regulations, municipal law, bicycle regulations, motor vehicle passing, traffic law, municipalities, bicycle operation, traffic laws, municipal regulations, port commission, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, San Patricio County

Transcript Highlights:

• Lincoln County Conservation District, they were upset with their unpaved roads and the way those roads
• You know, if you live on an unpaved road, the grader operator pulls the road out of the ditch, puts it
• in the middle of the road, smooths it out.
• And we had one in Ok[a] County where the road would wash out, the gravel would all wash off the road
• They went on this road to blading it at...

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We maintain thousands of miles of parish roads.
• We maintain thousands of miles of parish roads.
• are local roads and not state highways.
• Most of our parish roads are built for local traffic only.
• But I'm always open to something down the road, yes.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 16, 2026, and heard several bills dealing mainly with tax checkoffs, severance tax revenue, and estimated tax administration. The first major item was HB 156 by Rep. Bagley, a proposed constitutional amendment to remove the cap on the 20% share of severance tax revenues remitted to parishes where production occurs. Supporters from local government and the Police Jury Association argued that the cap prevents parishes from receiving the full share intended to help repair roads, bridges, drainage, and other infrastructure damaged by oil and gas activity. Members raised concerns about the bill’s roughly $42 million fiscal note and the state budget outlook, and the author ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer the bill after discussion of possible phase-ins and other compromises. The committee then took up HB 602 by Rep. Bamberg, another severance-tax-related constitutional amendment that would phase in a higher parish cap over five years, with a separate amendment tying the increase to parishes that exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxes. After questions about how it would interact with the pending inventory-tax amendment and its fiscal impact, the committee adopted the amendment and voluntarily deferred the bill pending a fiscal note. The committee also heard HB 852 by Rep. Lyons, which restores the income tax checkoff for donations to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence by lowering the performance threshold from $10,000 to $5,000; members discussed the number of checkoffs on the return and the need to keep the form manageable, but the bill was reported favorably as amended. Next, the committee considered HB 474 by Rep. Young, creating an individual income tax checkoff for the Grambling University National Alumni Association. Members again debated whether tax-return checkoffs amount to government-facilitated fundraising and whether they crowd the return, but the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 633 by Chairman Bacala, a cleanup bill adjusting estimated tax penalty timing and calculations to match current tax law; an amendment set was adopted to replace references to personal exemptions with the standard deduction, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I think primarily we're talking about roads and bridges.
• So I ran off the road to overcorrect it.
• It could be approximately 30 miles of shoulders added to a road.
• This is now our road, our bridge, et cetera. Right.
• We build the roads, bridges, the MoDOT projects. Thanks.”

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard House Bill 2926, which would extend sovereign or derivative immunity and a liability cap to private contractors, subcontractors, and employees working on Missouri Department of Transportation projects. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to protect contractors from being named in lawsuits before they begin work, and to limit exposure when they are following MoDOT plans and specifications, arguing that contractors are often sued as “deep pockets” even when they did nothing wrong. Several members pressed the sponsor on the bill’s wording and timing, noting confusion over whether immunity applies only before work begins or throughout the project and after completion. Supporters, including representatives from asphalt, construction, insurance, and business groups, said the current system drives up insurance costs, increases legal expenses, and discourages firms from taking roadwork jobs. They cited examples of contractors being sued before starting work or after following approved traffic-control plans, and argued that the bill would align Missouri with other states that provide similar protections. Opponents, including trial attorneys and injured workers and family members, argued that the bill would improperly extend government immunity to private businesses, reduce accountability, and limit recovery for seriously injured people. They said existing tort law already protects non-negligent actors and warned that the bill could make it harder for injured parties to find counsel or recover full damages. Testimony also focused on the $500,000 state liability cap, with opponents calling it too low and supporters saying it is already the standard for public entities and should apply to contractors acting on the state’s behalf. Several witnesses described tragic crashes and work-zone incidents on MoDOT projects, while others emphasized that distracted drivers, not contractors, often cause the accidents. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee took only testimony and then adjourned after hearing from both proponents and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that's this is not the end of the road. that's this is not the end of the road.
• </c><00:43:00.240><c> They're</c> unsafe vehicles on the road. They're unsafe vehicles on the road.
• </c> protection for our families on the road. protection for our families on the road. um<00:43:17.839
• ,</c><00:47:42.480><c> what</c> someone off over on the road, what someone off over on the road, what
• So, I do believe they are road.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is because of the condition of the roads and the added repairs.
• Things that can go out in your vehicle just based on the condition of the roads.
• In repairs just based on the condition of the roads.
• About the safety of the roads and unsafe vehicles being more dangerous.
• A lot of talk about vehicles that shouldn't be on the road. Whose vehicle shouldn't be on the road?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provides for safety uh on on the roads provides for safety uh on on the roads and<00:07:43.280><
• What this bill does for New road.
• </c> to protect our vulnerable road users. to protect our vulnerable road users.
• </c> controlled roads. controlled roads.
• Um so their roads and uh highways.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's something that we know anecdotally. ...per road mile.
• And that's something that we know anecdotally. per road mile.
• That was something, you know, by road mile.
• And we're talking roads that are 100 years old.
• It would basically be roads per mile.

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2998, with Representative Riggs explaining that most of the bill would be removed in committee substitute and that the remaining provisions would focus on an Upper Mississippi River Basin feasibility study and creating a stand-alone rural development office within DED. Riggs argued the study could explore hydropower, run-of-river technology, and a longer navigation season on the Mississippi, while the rural office would better serve Missouri’s roughly 2 million rural residents and provide a more permanent focus than current staffing arrangements. Committee members asked about why the river has not been used for power before, the cost and timeline of the study, the feasibility of retrofitting old locks and dams, and how the rural office would improve coordination and funding for rural development. Testimony in favor included Lisa Pennett, who urged keeping the coal-related language and said Missouri should protect its remaining coal plants amid growing electricity demand; Mike Sutherland of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, who supported the rural development office and described co-ops’ role in broadband, workforce, housing, and community development across rural Missouri; and MoDOT’s Pamela Harlan, who said the agency would need to coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the river study, estimated the study cost at about $3 million, and said it would likely take about three years. Informational testimony from Missouri Policy Initiative provided data on hydropower nationally, noting that only a small share of U.S. dams generate electricity, many retrofit projects are not viable, and a Mississippi River lock-and-dam project in Missouri and Illinois had recently received a federal permit to study feasibility. The hearing ended with the chair noting the bill would be narrowed in a substitute and then adjourning the committee; no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It enables road access, thinning, road maintenance, and mineral access needed for renewable energy infrastructure
• Logging roads and mining pits do not build futures; they erase them.
• Could the real issue be poor road maintenance, not the existence of roads?
• Strategic roads, on the other hand, build traditional stability.
• Ferdinnell acknowledged the value of strategic roads for safety.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee approved the January 19, 2026 minutes and then considered and passed a temporary and pending rule for the Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission (docket 15-0601-2501). Testimony from Sheriff Andy Creech emphasized that the rule would reduce administrative burden and costs by allowing longer-term contracts for Next Generation 911 equipment and services, helping Idaho modernize degraded legacy 911 systems and improve location accuracy, redundancy, and call routing. The committee also introduced RS 32996, presented by Senator Shippy, which would create a new licensing procedure for “established caterers.” The proposal would allow qualifying caterers operating from a publicly accessible business location and serving at least 50 events per year to obtain liquor licensing for service at catered events, addressing the current limitation that they lack a traditional brick-and-mortar premise for licensing purposes. Senator Harris moved to introduce the bill, and the motion passed. After official business, the committee hosted the American Falls FFA Ag Issues team, which presented a courtroom-style debate on the USDA’s 2025 rescission of the 2001 roadless rule. Students argued both the environmental and tribal concerns tied to preserving roadless forest protections and the opposing case for forest health, wildfire mitigation, economic development, and management flexibility. Committee members praised the students’ preparation and public speaking, asked questions about their research process and views on the issue, and adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 1.2% for Chapter 90 for road miles, with 92% to the T.
• The, the, with zero additional money for Chapter 90, outside of Road and Isles.
• The amendment I filed in the spring of last year both in education and in road money.
• repair needs, since these towns have extensive local road networks.
• repair needs, since these towns have extensive local road networks.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and received a resignation letter from Rep. Fana Howard of Lowell, effective March 17, 2026, as she transitioned to the Senate. The chamber then took up several procedural orders, including multiple unanimous or voice-vote suspensions of rules and concurrence with Senate petitions, such as referrals on housing and student transportation matters, and a suspension of Joint Rule 12 for a petition involving children served by DCF. The main substantive item was House No. 5264, a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $1.8 billion. Members discussed its use of Fair Share surtax surplus funds for transportation and education, including major support for the MBTA, special education circuit breaker costs, early education and child care, snow and ice costs, regional transit authorities, and other deficiencies such as GIC and sheriff costs. Members also explained the bill’s tax conformity provisions responding to recent federal tax changes, with debate over whether to delay conformity to limit state revenue exposure. The House adopted a consolidated amendment to the bill and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote, 150-3. The House also adopted a resolution commending the Admetek Foundation on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. Several local bills were advanced, including a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee, a bill waiving the minimum age requirement for a Boston police officer, a Nantucket charter bill, a Stoneham public safety bill, and a Malden special police officers bill, the last of which was amended before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Amendment 43 to redistribute $100 million of Fair Share revenue more evenly to municipalities for roads and education; supporters argued the current distribution favored statewide priorities over local aid, while opponents said the formula would not adequately address rural road needs. That amendment was rejected 128-25. The House then recessed several times, observed moments of silence for local public servants, welcomed visiting youth sports teams, and finally ordered adjournment to meet the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't belong on those roads, but they're going there anyway.
• That was something, you know, by road mile.
• And we're talking roads are 100 years old.
• That was something, you know, by road mile.
• I mean, we're talking roads that are 100 years old.

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Potentially, it could be road user charges. Thank you.
• I'm taking part in Road User Charge America, and we have regular meetings.
• Utah and Hawaii, for example, have already implemented road user charge.
• Implemented road user charge.
• I'll put a finer point on it regarding the road usage charge.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a bill to allow and modify provisions for operating all-terrain vehicles on public roads.
• ATVs on public roads.
• The ability to safely operate all-terrain vehicles, ATVs, on designated public roads is not just about
• I mean Jeeps, bikes, ATVs, UTVs—you name it, they got it on the road.
• I mean Jeeps, bikes, ATVs, UTVs—you name it, they got it on the road.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• projects, road or bridge projects.
• </c><00:05:42.240><c> projects,</c> don't want to impact um road projects, don't want to impact um road
• We put a cap of road or bridge projects.
• It's going to be into roads and bridges.
• Road builders and Mr. Harris himself were at every single meeting.

Bills: HB542 , HB542

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan, assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, state pension, survivor benefits, Office of Prosecution Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, we can't always afford to do a lake and industrial access road program.
• , and then that county road eventually greatly improves access down into the Port of Inola.
• The county road system received a $50 million commitment of that $75 million.
• We still do the county mileage assessments, so we measure the county road mileage.
• And you just provide the, just like we do for county road mileage, it goes to Tax.

Summary: The committee met for an oversight update on how one-time and recurring transportation-related appropriations are being implemented. Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Director Grayson Artees reviewed ARPA and PREP-funded airport and aerospace projects, including completed or nearing-completion work at Will Rogers, Woodward, Ardmore, Tulsa’s air traffic control tower, and multiple hangar, terminal, taxiway, utility, and UAS infrastructure projects statewide. He also discussed one-time FY25 and FY26 appropriations for airport development, the repurposing of an unneeded Lufthansa project allocation into other aerospace projects, and the department’s aerospace education grants, classroom labs, aircraft-build programs, and internship support. Members asked for lists of participating schools and for a clearer overall accounting of the funding; Artees said the department would provide those materials and estimated roughly $400 million has been invested in aerospace and defense since PREP and ARPA, with about $250 million directed to airport infrastructure. The committee then heard from ODOT Secretary Tim Gatz on the Retro Fund, lake and industrial access roads, ports of entry, and the PACT Fund. Gatz said Retro, created in statute and funded with $200 million in both 2024 and FY25, is helping accelerate rural high-impact road and bridge projects; he reported $249 million awarded so far, supporting about $1.4 billion in construction, with most projects expected to be awarded by September 2027. He also described lake and industrial access projects, including work at the Port of Inola, and updated members on ports of entry, internal way stations, and the replacement of the aging OkiPROS permitting system with ProMiles. On PACT, he said the county road and bridge allocations are being administered, but the Tax Commission’s role in distributing the county road share has created unnecessary bureaucracy; he urged a statutory fix so the money can go directly to counties. Members asked for lists of approved lake/recreational projects and for clarification on the Tax Commission issue; Gatz said ODOT would provide the project list and that he would welcome Tax Commission input on a legislative remedy. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the updates and questions.