Transcript Highlights:

• That opportunity helps zero-emission vehicle station developers secure financing and build fast-charging
• Simply put, zero-emission vehicles are more energy efficient than combustion vehicles.
• That is creating a lot of diversity in both the technology for vehicles and in how you fuel those vehicles
• The LCFS is really a key enabler of this transition to zero-emission vehicles—that's electric vehicles
• And in the case of battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles, zero tailpipe emissions

Summary: The hearing was a select committee discussion on the transportation costs and impacts of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), with opening remarks from the co-chairs and members emphasizing affordability, climate goals, and the need to explain the program’s benefits to the public. The first panel from CARB and the California Energy Commission described how LCFS works as a market-based, declining carbon-intensity program that rewards lower-carbon fuels, supports zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and is intended to reduce greenhouse gases and local air pollution. They argued the program has driven billions in private investment, increased alternative fuel use, and that LCFS credit prices are not the main driver of retail gasoline prices, which they said are dominated by crude oil, refining, and distribution costs. Members questioned the panel on the gap between the regulatory target and actual carbon-intensity performance, the role of credit banking, which fuels are generating the most credits, how the 2025 amendments affected the program, and whether LCFS credits are truly additional. CARB explained that banking helps cost-effectiveness and investment certainty, that ethanol, renewable diesel, and biodiesel currently provide the largest volumes while electricity is expected to grow, and that the updated targets were informed by the state’s 2045 carbon-neutrality goals and the 2030 scoping plan. The Energy Commission said its data show environmental programs add some cost to gasoline but do not drive price volatility, which is mainly tied to crude oil and refinery margins. The second panel, featuring academic and research experts, focused on program design, out-of-state credit generation, and broader economic effects. Speakers said LCFS is successful because it ties incentives to emissions benefit, uses life-cycle analysis, and allows flexible compliance that lowers costs compared with more direct regulation. They also said the program’s benefits generally outweigh costs, that it can reduce air pollution disparities and support equity, but that some issues—especially indirect land use change, additionality, and older program assumptions—need more research and may warrant future rulemaking. One researcher noted that while LCFS likely raises gasoline prices somewhat, the effect is uncertain by design and usually smaller than normal market fluctuations, and another warned that limiting credit generation too narrowly could create legal and efficiency problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> circumstances are unsafe um if a vehicle circumstances are unsafe um if a vehicle is<00:31:52.039
• </c><00:42:13.480><c> either</c> teenage boys inside the vehicle either teenage boys inside the vehicle
• </c><00:42:20.000><c> struck</c> Zone moments later their vehicle struck Zone moments later their vehicle
• </c> Jang director of the driver and vehicle Jang director of the driver and vehicle service<00:53:26.079
• </c><01:14:15.159><c> bill</c> for consideration in our finance bill for consideration in our finance

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> A request was made that we intereded a vehicle at some point.
• </c> Hampshire Business Finance Authority. Hampshire Business Finance Authority.
• </c><00:14:48.800><c> Authority</c> New Hampshire Business Finance Authority New Hampshire Business Finance
• Business Finance Authority, cross Business Finance Authority, cross referencing<00:20:04.559><c> different
• </c> it with business finance it with business finance &gt;&gt; I<00:22:15.120><c> see</c><00:22:15.280

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• James Moore with the Department of Finance.
• Andrew March, Department of Finance.
• Andrew March, Department of Finance.
• Colby White, Department of Finance.
• Yeah, I know I'm on to prep and a finance.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in in Ed Finance that actually passed. in in Ed Finance that actually passed.
• Um, we originally had planned to use Senate File 4006 as our vehicle bill.
• Um, we originally had planned to use Senate File 4006 as our vehicle bill.
• </c> as our vehicle bill. That is stuck in Ways and Means in the House.
• Um, we know that has passed in the House, so we are going to use that as our vehicle. Vehicle.

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• To the finance committee report.
• We're simply writing that amount into statute. finance uh after which no elements of finance uh after
• Um again, what we did in uh finance.
• </c><01:24:58.239><c> committee</c> the adoption of the finance committee the adoption of the finance
• finance committee report.

Transcript Highlights:

• also any stopped or standing vehicle on the roadside.
• </c><00:53:06.559><c> they</c> regardless of the type of vehicle they regardless of the type of vehicle
• </c> pass it it would not get through Finance pass it it would not get through Finance so<01:06:16.960
• </c> and it also reduces human and vehicle and it also reduces human and vehicle collisions<01:11:46.080
• The chances of, uh, we hope to get in front of Finance, you know, from this committee, to Finance with

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Vapors from exiting the vehic vehicle Vapors from exiting the vehic vehicle causing<00:26:58.919
• </c> the one exception is for youth Vehicles the one exception is for youth Vehicles so<00:32:34.840>
• </c><00:37:50.079><c> are</c> the if the if these vehicles are the if the if these vehicles are shedding
• Commerce finance and policy um chair Commerce finance and policy um chair Hinman<00:45:51.839><c> to<
• Representative Fischer, thank you." know off the road vehicles out there so know off the road vehicles

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Lang came into Senate Finance.
• </c><00:37:13.200><c> inspection</c> If we look at u motor vehicle inspection If we look at u motor vehicle
• Uh the house motor vehicle inspections.
• </c><01:15:08.640><c> Committee</c> uh made by uh Senate Finance Committee uh made by uh Senate Finance
• records, make changes relative to motor vehicle inspections, and reduce certain motor vehicle registration

Summary: The Legislative Budget Assistant staff presented an overview of the Senate changes to the House-passed budget, focusing on revenue estimates, appropriations, and ending balances across the general fund and education trust fund. The presentation emphasized that the Senate’s budget reflected higher revenue assumptions than the House, driven in part by updated April revenue figures, changes to business, tobacco, and real estate transfer tax splits, and different assumptions about video lottery terminal revenue. The Senate also adjusted lapse estimates upward, especially for HHS, after receiving updated information that lapses could be much larger than originally assumed. The presenter walked through the major differences in the surplus statements for fiscal years 2025 through 2027. Compared with the House, the Senate budget generally showed higher revenues, lower or different appropriations in some areas, and larger balances carried forward, including a larger education trust fund balance and a different rainy day fund transfer. The Senate’s approach also changed several policy assumptions, such as maintaining liquor revenue dedication, removing the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap, changing the treatment of unique revenue, and altering the process for meeting a targeted revenue amount by giving the governor more flexibility. On the appropriations side, the Senate removed or modified several House reductions and added funding or adjustments in areas including the judicial branch, corrections, HHS, the Human Rights Commission, and certain settlement costs. The presenter also highlighted Senate changes in House Bill 2 and related budget provisions, including a new arts tax credit, a nursing home bed fee, changes to Medicaid premium assumptions, and differences in how motor vehicle inspection repeal and BLT-related revenue are handled. No votes were taken in the portion shown; the discussion was informational and comparative, aimed at explaining the Senate budget changes before conference committee negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had emergency vehicles, emergency vehicles, not on an emergency call, not with their lights and
• their vehicles are being outfitted with laptops that face the driver.
• It's a vehicle to to do to do more.
• We know there's a lot of things that happened in a vehicle that are distracting.
• So there are always going to be things that are happening vehicle. These are things.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the vehicles that you're seeing in this video are some of the first vehicles that IIHS started
• And today's vehicles do a lot better.
• of a vehicle...
• Keep in mind as the vehicle fleet changes is that the front end height of a vehicle compounds the effects
• The vehicle industry, the transit bus vehicle industry, is moving less away from customization and making

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee began with a transportation budget and revenue overview from Haley Gamble and Brian Moore. They reviewed the 2025-27 adopted transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, with the Department of Transportation making up the largest share. They said the 2025 session’s new revenues, including the fuel tax increase and other fee changes, allowed the committee to move from projected structural deficits to a balanced four-year plan, while preserving major programs such as culverts, ferry timing adjustments, highway preservation, and local maintenance funding. They also discussed updated revenue forecasts, including a modest downward revision in fuel consumption and uncertainty around some revenue sources, but said overall revenues remain stronger than previously projected. Committee members asked for more detail on dedicated funds, regional fuel tax patterns, and whether preservation needs could be supported through bonding. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chichino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She described the group’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce traffic fatalities 30% by 2030, citing increases in deaths for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and comparing U.S. fatality rates unfavorably with other high-income countries. Her presentation emphasized speed management, impaired driving enforcement, safer roadway design, and pedestrian protections such as lower speed limits, speed cameras, traffic calming, roundabouts, better lighting, and pedestrian beacons. She also highlighted research showing that larger vehicles increase pedestrian risk and discussed Bellevue pilot projects using smart signal technology that reduced near misses. No action was taken on the presentation. In the final work session item, Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT and Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association discussed potential transit and active transportation grant programs that had been proposed but not enacted in 2025. Chamberlain explained how new grant programs require runway time, staff capacity, and clear program design, and contrasted “projects first, funding after” with “funding first, projects after” approaches. She addressed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting questions about eligibility, scoring, and how such projects would fit with existing active transportation and preservation work. Leighton reviewed the state’s transit grant portfolio and argued that a transit safety and security grant could help agencies fund operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health support, and non-uniformed security staff. He also raised concerns about sales tax treatment of security contracts, staffing shortages, federal uncertainty, CDL non-domicile issues, and long procurement timelines for buses. The committee asked questions about definitions, program purpose, and implementation challenges, but did not take any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• postsecondary performance fund, the Department of Revenue, Secretary of State, Registry of Election Finance
• </c><00:12:07.720><c> We</c> tax incentive financing program. We tax incentive financing program.
• In the Finance and Administration Cabinet, we reduce the general fund as the cost continues to dwindle
• </c> In the Finance and Administration In the Finance and Administration Cabinet, Cabinet, Cabinet, we
• Cabinet to effectuate a 2 and Finance Cabinet to effectuate a 2 and 1/2%<00:18:29.360><c> reduction<

Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• by doing a number of things: one, looking at alternative financing opportunities for vehicles; asking
• Although heavy-duty vehicles make up a small share of vehicles, they are disproportionately responsible
• Unlike the passenger vehicle market, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks,
• financing options to help fleets make the switch. ...of money, looks into innovative financing options
• , their electric vehicle infrastructure?

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Motor vehicle tax collection is transmitted to the state treasurer from Sections 15 and 16.
• And of course, with fuel economy, more hybrid vehicles, that's practically flat.
• And of course, with fuel economy, more hybrid vehicles, that's practically flat.
• We don’t have to get into real creative financing if we don’t want to.
• But the thing is, is— We don’t have to get into real creative financing if we don’t want to.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met to consider Senate Bill 2012, the Department of Transportation budget, with Representative Brandenburg presenting a detailed House amendment package and Speaker Robin Weisz explaining the overall funding strategy. The discussion focused on restructuring transportation funding streams, including moving Prairie Dog money into a flexible transportation fund, adjusting gas tax distributions, increasing the legacy earnings transfer from 7% to 8%, and authorizing a $155 million bond for Highway 85. Members also discussed DOT operations, bridge funding, rest areas, electronic titling, and the use of funds for grants to counties, cities, and townships. A separate provision would let the DOT consider whether local ordinances or policies unreasonably restrict permitted agriculture or energy projects when scoring grant applications, which drew significant debate about local control and whether the language was punitive. Testimony from Brandenburg and Weisz emphasized that the plan was intended to provide more predictable funding, preserve the ability to match federal dollars, and direct money where needs are greatest through a grant process. Weisz said the package was designed to simplify multiple revenue buckets, ensure DOT can meet federal match requirements, and free up money for the general fund while still supporting transportation needs. Several members raised concerns about whether cities, counties, and townships would receive as much as under the prior Prairie Dog structure, whether the bridge allocation was correctly reflected in the bill, and whether the local-policy language would penalize subdivisions that oppose energy projects. Supporters argued the state needed to protect revenue tied to energy development and that local governments would still receive distributions plus additional grant opportunities. The committee adopted the House amendment to SB 2012 by a vote of 19-1-3, then rejected an amendment to remove the local-policy language on a 5-15-3 vote. The committee then passed SB 2012 as amended on a 20-0-3 vote, with Representative Brandenburg designated as the carrier. The chair announced that Senate Bill 2014 would not be taken up at that time and the committee recessed until called back.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee on Finance will come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Huffman?
• and other finance members.
• have different characteristics compared to electric vehicles.
• Good afternoon, Chair Huffman and members of the Finance Committee.
• Members of the Texas Senate Finance Committee, my name is Dr.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1292 by Senator Richardson and relating to vehicles.
• Manufactured homes are a low-cost but underutilized form of housing, but finding affordable financing
• Senate Bill 1167 by Senator Blakespear, an act relating to vehicles.
• SB 1167 requires clear labeling of vehicles for sale as to what type of vehicle it is and does not allow
• Senate Bill 1283 by Senator Ashby, an act relating to electric vehicle charging stations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Voters will see upfront, Financing plan. Clear financial disclosure.
• This bill does still allow for low-emission vehicles and structures to be used for offloading.
• And it's typically been passenger vehicles. It's not been commercial vehicles.
• And it's typically been passenger vehicles. It's not been commercial vehicles.
• In May of 2025, a vehicle turned onto the freeway, causing someone to be airlifted.

Summary: The Senate Local Government and State Parks Committee heard several bills focused on local government finance, land use, and public safety. SB 5903 would deem a cemetery district commissioner elected if only one qualified candidate files, with sponsor Senator Cortez saying it would save ballot-printing costs and local resources; there was no testimony in opposition. SB 6037 would create or modify a voter-approved option for cities and towns to form a single-city fire protection district, adjust levy and notice rules, allow administrative service contracts with the city, and clarify commissioner elections; Senator Cortez and multiple city and fire officials said it would give communities more flexible, locally controlled funding tools for fire service, while committee members asked about how it would work and the fiscal impact. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transferred to a government entity for right-of-way from rollback taxes when the transfer is tied to development conditions and stays within a 20% acreage limit; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid an unfair tax bill, and there was no testimony on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against using port funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor witnesses argued the bill protects jobs, keeps public dollars from underwriting automation, and still allows zero-emission, human-operated equipment; port and labor representatives testified in strong support, while the sign-in sheet showed substantial public interest both for and against. SB 6016 would change how urban growth area swaps treat critical aquifer recharge areas, making the rules for annual and periodic updates more consistent and allowing swaps if they do not increase net CARA acreage within the UGA; the sponsor, Commerce, housing, business, and development interests said it was a technical fix that supports housing and consistency, while one witness warned it could weaken groundwater protections and create litigation risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 6066, which would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, require a public hearing and engineering review, double certain traffic penalties in the zone, and dedicate half the extra revenue to safety improvements before dissolving the zone. Supporters from cities, counties, and Pasco said it could help address dangerous intersections and fund fixes, though several witnesses raised liability and implementation concerns and asked for further stakeholder work. No votes were taken in the transcript; the chair closed each hearing after testimony and sign-in counts were noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bills 905, 906, 907, and 908 will all be referred to the Finance Committee.
• House Bills 905, 906, 907, and 908 will all be referred to the Finance Committee.
• It does modernize Idaho's off-road vehicle enforcement program.
• It does modernize Idaho's off-road vehicle enforcement program.
• It does modernized Idaho's off-way vehicle enforcement program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2062 relates to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.
• This is their vehicle to move the housing ladder. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Senator.
• This is their vehicle to move the housing ladder.
• This is their vehicle to move the housing ladder.
• This is their vehicle to move the housing ladder. >> How?

Bills: SB2060 , SB2063 , SB2062 , SB2069 , SB2070

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Senate, Senate Bill 1387 by the Finance Committee: An act relating to the appropriation to the
• The Finance Committee and House Bill 835 will be referred to the State Affairs Committee.
• Senators, as I worked with the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, they helped write the...
• And that's where right now when you register your vehicle, you pay an extra $3 on your vehicle registration
• at the DMV for vehicle registration, titles, and driver's licenses.