Transcript Highlights:

• When roads get fixed, a deputy arrives for help, or an emergency call goes through smoothly.
• Our road and bridge, which we're far in the market, the latter road, equates to $12.5 million.
• Our road and bridge, which we're far in the market, the latter road, equates to $12.5 million.
• Other than the bonds that we did for roads. Yeah, and the same offer will go.
• By the time we build the road, the school, other deputies, sheriffs, rooftops never pay.

Bills: SB9

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill enhances road safety by discouraging distracted driving in promoting the use of hands-free
• It's because our roads are so dangerous in Florida. Screen interaction.
• roads.
• harm on our roads.
• Reach over without taking your eyes off the road.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when reducing the maximum speed limit within 10 miles per hour of the current speed limit for that road
• So for reduced speed limits on roads, such as installing a speed bump with an additional sign to reduce
• </c><00:07:26.039><c> um</c> for reduced speed limits on roads um for reduced speed limits on roads um
• </c><00:08:08.199><c> in</c> accidents which occur on roads in accidents which occur on roads in specific
• and transportation processes I roads and transportation processes I think<00:08:27.720><c> to</c><00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation and Culture heard testimony on several transportation-related bills. HB 1422, which would exempt certain community-based organizations providing transportation services from motor carrier law, drew support from the Department of Transportation, PUC, DLNR, Kauaʻi County, the Hōnaunau Initiative, and others; members asked about narrowing amendments to prevent unintended use, and the bill later advanced with amendments, including a three-year sunset. HB 1162, requiring motorcycle instruction permit applicants to complete a DOT-approved basic rider course, received support from DOT and Honolulu Customer Services; it advanced with amendments to address city and county concerns and to allow more implementation time. HB 1259, which would remove the need for an engineering study when reducing speed limits by up to 10 mph, had mixed testimony and was deferred for further discussion. HB 1260, establishing summer streets pilot programs for counties other than Oʻahu, drew support from DOT, DOH, UH, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, bicycling and public health groups, and individuals; DOH and others asked that Oʻahu be included, but the measure was deferred for later decision-making. HB 177, making civil ID cards free, had opposition from DOT and Honolulu Customer Services and support from health advocates; DOT said the program costs about $1.3 million annually and would need replacement funding, and the bill was deferred. HB 862, authorizing motor coaches, small buses, and vans for school bus services under certain conditions, received broad support from disability advocates, DOE-related entities, neighborhood boards, and private providers, with testimony emphasizing flexibility and accessibility; it was deferred. HB 667, requiring microchip scanning and reporting when deceased cats or dogs are removed from roadways, was supported by DOT, the Hawaiian Humane Society, and many animal groups and individuals, and was passed unamended. HB 960, increasing the cap on certain DOT capital investment contracts, and HB 228, authorizing electronic license plates and banning plate-obscuring devices and flipping devices, were both heard and then deferred. HB 1156, increasing the amount of special facility revenue bonds available for harbor improvements, received support from DOT, the Island Chamber of Commerce, Alakaʻi Energy, and the Harbor Users Group, and was passed unamended to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's still gonna be on the road in 3 days.
• Hughes, you were talking about the counties and cities and overreach on the roads and so forth.
• And speaking of roads, um, we have overweight corridors in South Texas.
• But are those lateral state or or local roads?
• Roads based on debt, on toll roads, you know, that was kind of the leading way we did that.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it’s a two-lane road, for example, the cars can still pass by. But my question, Mr.
• And there are portions of those two roads that have railroad crossings.
• </c><00:17:58.400><c> So,</c> roads that have railroad crossings.
• So, roads that have railroad crossings.
• ,</c> than uh safety on our roads, than uh safety on our roads, particularly<00:23:20.680><c> when</c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• roads within the state of Wyoming.
• </c><01:04:02.720><c> and</c> frankly shouldn't be on our roads and frankly shouldn't be on our roads
• road.
• road.
• </c> purposes of being safe on our roads. purposes of being safe on our roads.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You’ve A bill that will save lives on California roads. You’ve heard a number of stats.
• Our roads.
• AB 311 will improve road safety by reducing poor driving.
• that there are people who got used to driving on the roads with nobody there.
• that there are people who got used to driving on the roads with nobody there.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You take a road like 123, and everybody has ever traversed 123, which I'm doing daily, you have real
• is a lot of times that legal way is larger than the actual road that we think of as the road, so because
• is a lot of times that legal way is larger than the actual road that we think of as the road, so because
• is a lot of times that legal way is larger than the actual road that we think of as the road, so because
• The road.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 758, which would establish a study committee on airport operation hours and possible noise abatement measures, including whether New Hampshire should prohibit departures between midnight and 6 a.m. The sponsor said the committee would examine the pros and cons and consult stakeholders. The Bureau of Aeronautics testified neutrally, noting that New Hampshire has 25 public airports, 12 with federal funding and grant assurances that may require them to remain open during those hours, and that cargo operations, including at Manchester, commonly occur overnight. Members also discussed existing noise abatement programs and how mitigation is determined by noise contours and FAA funding decisions. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing after testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 489, allowing voluntary emergency workers to use rear-facing blue lights on private vehicles when responding to emergencies. The sponsor said the bill corrects an oversight in existing law, would not cost the state or towns money, and would improve visibility and safety, especially in rural areas. Supportive testimony from a volunteer responder emphasized that blue lights help cut through fog, snow, and nighttime conditions, and that the bill would only add a single rear-facing blue light to existing red, amber, and white emergency lighting. The New Hampshire State Police opposed the bill, arguing that expanding blue lights to private vehicles would confuse the public and desensitize drivers to blue lights, which are associated with law enforcement. The hearing closed without action. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 533, which the sponsor and State Police clarified is actually two separate changes: one authorizing civilian automotive equipment inspectors to assist with vehicle inspection work, and another expanding language in motor carrier enforcement to include new entrant safety audits and compliance reviews. The State Police explained that civilian inspectors are hired and trained through the department and that any findings of state-law violations would be referred to troopers; they also said the new motor carrier language was requested to satisfy federal audit concerns about right of entry. The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association said it had no position if the civilian inspectors were not doing commercial truck inspections, but would oppose the bill if they were. Members asked about the difference between audits and compliance reviews, and the State Police said audits are for newer carriers and are non-enforcement, while compliance reviews look for violations. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 533. After a brief reset, the committee opened House Bill 594, which would repeal an alternate definition of “way” for the driving-after-suspension statute. The sponsor said the change was requested by the Department of Justice. Representative Erica Leon opposed the repeal, explaining that the prior language was intended to avoid criminalizing people who mow lawns or perform similar work near property edges while suspended, but she worried the repeal could create a loophole allowing driving on places like highway medians. Members questioned whether the issue was limited to mowing or broader vehicle use on property edges, and Leon said she would work with agencies to clarify the language so it protects lawful mowing without allowing misuse. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our maintenance of our roads and rebuilding our roads, those are very expensive projects.
• Our maintenance of our roads and rebuilding our roads, those are very expensive projects, and they have
• What are your, your, um... our maintenance of our roads and rebuilding our roads, those are very expensive
• How much more is it going to make our road projects go up?
• So the dyed diesel is an off-road diesel for agriculture. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee heard and voted on several bills, beginning with SB 190, which would authorize revenue bonds for Gila Regional Medical Center to replace an aging linear accelerator for cancer treatment. The sponsor and hospital representatives said the project is critical for rural patients who otherwise travel long distances for radiation therapy. After a brief amendment changing the bond term from 20 to 30 years, the committee advanced the bill 7-0. The committee then took up SB 152, a broadband affordability and rural telecommunications bill that would keep money in the broadband fund for maintenance, expansion, and a new affordability program after the federal ACP lapsed. The sponsor and broadband stakeholders said the bill is needed to close the digital divide, while some industry witnesses supported the affordability goal but wanted changes to broaden eligibility and adjust program rules. The committee heard public testimony from supporters and opponents, then passed the bill 8-0. Next, SB 77 would require certain highway and public works contractors to contribute to apprenticeship training funds; labor groups supported it as workforce development, while highway and asphalt contractors opposed it as an added cost and argued they already run their own training programs. After extended debate about whether the 60-cent-per-hour contribution would raise project costs or simply redirect existing prevailing-wage funds, the committee advanced SB 77 on a 5-3 vote. The committee also heard SB 182, a dyed diesel gross receipts tax deduction for agricultural use, but held it for the tax package without a vote. SB 151, a corporate income tax decoupling bill intended to recover revenue lost to federal tax changes, drew strong support from tax and advocacy groups and strong opposition from business, oil and gas, and chamber representatives who called it a tax increase that would hurt investment and competitiveness. Committee members raised concerns about long-term revenue stability and business impacts, but the sponsors said the bill would restore state tax capacity and selectively decouple from federal provisions; the bill was held for later consideration in the tax package. Finally, the committee heard SB 133 on eliminating gross receipts tax on medical providers for medical equipment and supplies, and SB 212 on a ski-area construction equipment gross receipts tax exemption, with sponsors arguing both would improve competitiveness and support industry investment; both were discussed as possible tax-package items and held for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would there be drivers from Ireland that would come to Morgantown, drive on our roads, maybe not understand
• Do I see hundreds of thousands of Irish folks coming over here and driving on our roads because of this
• Which side of the road do they drive on? They drive on the other side of the road.
• However, the steering wheel is also on the other side of the road.
• So it's actually, I grew up driving on the other side of the road.

Committee: Senate Transportation and Infrastructure

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The effort or maintaining the roads.
• </c> mind it's not just the physical road mind it's not just the physical road construction.<00:51:39.080
• Um and the roads can't keep doing that.
• To get a little more in-depth from there, if you have traffic information or road conditions, snow, road
• </c><01:18:20.880><c> and</c> data that's gold uh, for all roads and data that's gold uh, for all roads

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided. The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic. The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I find out I had to go all the way to Meridian Road.
• I find out I had to go all the way to Meridian Road.
• It's not going to pave the roads.
• I see them working hard to widen roads for more travel lanes.
• And I don't like to see our roads become partisan myself. So. Okay. Representative Palmer.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, all the things that we struggle to pay for, you know, particularly with our roads.
• I don't like raising taxes, but if you want to put an extra tax on this and then it goes to our roads
• I have a series of unanimous consent requests related to road naming bills. You're recognized, Mr.
• So it could have been done on the side of the road.
• Yes, it would, just as opposed to what we had here on the side of the road.

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know that sometimes boulevards and roads are maintained jointly by highway districts and and So
• And I know that sometimes boulevards and roads are maintained jointly by highway districts and and ..
• .and roads are maintained jointly by highway districts and, you know, so how is it going to be determined
• It's about government entity buildings, adjoining lands, parks, roads, and boulevards that the city owns
• And so, you know, I understand the antenna, I see a lot of problems with this down the road, but I still

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 21 and 22, 2026, and briefly welcomed a young visitor introduced by Representative Skog. The main item was Representative Hill’s proposal, RS 32882, a bill to restrict which flags may be displayed on government property. Hill said the measure was intended to prevent local officials from flying political, religious, or ideological flags and to ensure the American flag remains preeminent. He described allowed flags as including the U.S. flag, state flags, military flags, recognized tribal flags, certain nation-state flags, the Basque Autonomous Community flag on special occasions, and official Idaho university or college flags, while excluding city and county flags. He also said enforcement would include a $2,000-per-day-per-flag penalty and possible injunctions by the attorney general. Members raised questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would apply to city and county flags, banners on boulevards and rights-of-way, parade flags, and community event displays. Hill repeatedly said the bill was aimed at government-owned property and official government displays, not parades, but also confirmed that city and county flags would be prohibited because they could be used for political statements. Some members supported the bill’s goal of limiting political messaging, while others argued it would unnecessarily eliminate longstanding local flags and community displays, and that the Basque carve-out was inconsistent with the bill’s stated purpose. Several motions were offered. An initial motion to introduce RS 32882 failed 7-7. A substitute motion by Representative Skog to introduce the bill with an amendment adding “official city or county flags” on line 22 passed 12-2. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of my big concerns is that is road.
• </c> kicking the can down the road. kicking the can down the road.
• Chairman, moving this down the road doesn't change what I've said before.
• Having me. county government took part of the road, county government took part of the road, so<00:33
• road which is really that's<01:01:53.360><c> outcome.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 10 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contract reviews, including a deferred Kentucky Transportation Cabinet item tied to Louisville bridge tolling and RiverLink. Transportation officials explained that the contract was part of a bi-state arrangement with Indiana: Indiana Finance Authority held the main contract with HNTB, while Kentucky needed a mirror contract to pay its 50% share under the bi-state management agreement. Members questioned why the work was treated as effectively no-bid, how much input Kentucky had in vendor selection, RiverLink’s collection performance, and when tolls might end. Transportation said Kentucky had equal representation in selection, HNTB served as a toll services advisor, collections and customer service had improved, and tolls are expected to remain until debt obligations are paid off in 2058. Several members criticized the company’s past performance and voted no as a statement of concern, but the contract still moved forward. The committee then deferred a Kentucky State University item because the vendor was not registered with the Secretary of State. It also approved the overall agenda and contract review lists. A Board of Optometric Examiners contract drew significant discussion: board representatives said they had previously relied on the Public Protection Cabinet for legal services, but that office lacked staff and advised them to seek outside counsel. Some members argued the committee could not approve a contract that appeared to conflict with statute, while others said the board should not be left without legal counsel and that the Attorney General should be brought in to resolve the issue. The committee ultimately voted to defer the optometric contract for one month and requested the Attorney General appear at the next meeting. Finally, the committee reviewed an Administrative Office of the Courts amendment for the Court of Appeals building project. Staff explained that the General Assembly had authorized the project, the design contract had already gone through multiple approved phases, and the current item was only an administrative correction to a prior modification amount. Members approved the amendment, with one member noting appreciation that the project costs had been reduced when an error was found.

Transcript Highlights:

• He gets in his truck and goes down that little road that you saw, which turns onto the road right in
• Now, again, at that point, it was safe to walk down the road.
• Edward recalls to us, the water at that point on the road was maybe ankle-deep.
• They start driving down the road and then begin seeing flashlights.
• So for Twins to walk across the road to Nut Hut, it's a little further away.

Committee: House The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've got a significant issue on road one road that um is about a $10 million project which we're
• And uh with county roads that we have.
• And in fact, the roads that we've got.
• </c> last uh summer we uh depave some roads last uh summer we uh depave some roads and<00:54:14.000><
• </c> we've got a significant issue on road we've got a significant issue on road one<00:54:25.520><c>

Bills: HB0105 , HB0107 , SF0002

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: K-12 education, school facilities, security improvements, public funding, state appropriations, school construction, local government funding, sales tax distribution, municipal funding, economic equity, state revenue, Wyoming Legislature, legislative appropriations, Legislative Service Office, LSO budget, general fund, biennial budget, legislative branch, legislator travel, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• Putting that money into roads from the general fund takes money away from school kids.
• in order to pay for the roads.
• in order to pay for the roads.
• They have been asking for years for improvements to their roads.
• But we need to drive this road farther east. We need to drive this road farther east.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You just need to let the Parkways Authority know before you drive through a toll road what vehicle that
• You just need to let the Parkways Authority know before you drive through a toll road what vehicle that
• We all ask for our roads to be fixed, and with that comes work zones.
• That we're putting into our road system and all the construction that is going to be there, hopefully
• every year, because we keep putting more money into roads, we have to protect these workers.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Infrastructure Committee first returned to engrossed House Bill 4419, which would require the West Virginia Parkways Authority to hold public hearings and give notice before increasing tolls, rents, fees, or charges, and would allow legislative auditing of related revenues and sinking funds. The committee debated two amendments related to E-ZPass transponders: one from the Senator from Jefferson to clarify that the Parkway Authority would not be required to read every plate failed on a 4-4 tie, and one from the Senator from Wetzel to codify a restriction on transferring single-fee transponders between vehicles was rejected after discussion with counsel and the Parkways Authority about current policy, convenience for users, and possible effects on the bill. The committee then approved a motion to send HB 4419 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, but first be referred to Finance, and a separate motion to send it to Finance passed. The committee also considered engrossed House Bill 4563, on which Senator Randolph moved for a second reference to Finance because of fiscal concerns. After discussion of the newly filed fiscal note and the bill’s potential revenue impact, that motion failed by a 4-5 division vote. The committee then voted to report HB 4563 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 4538, which increases fines and penalties for failing to obey traffic control instructions or speeding in construction and work zones, and also references penalties tied to distracted driving provisions. Counsel noted the bill’s possible overlap with existing vehicular homicide penalties and that it had no fiscal note. Jason Pizzitella of the Contractors Association testified in support, emphasizing work-zone safety and recent fatalities, while senators from Fayette, Randolph, and Jefferson also supported the bill and discussed the need to protect workers and drivers. The committee adopted a motion to report HB 4538 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill protects the most vulnerable individuals on the road.
• this bill provides law enforcement with an effective enforcement... ...partners with to build its road
• And it's a very bad time to be out on the road because if I forget to signal or have some other little
• There's really no difference between this and, you know, a car that's parked on the side of the road,
• There's really no difference between this and, you know, a car that's part of the side of the road, and

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee approved the February 25, 2026 minutes and then heard several House bills and gubernatorial appointments. HB 681 would remove the statute of limitations for aggravated lewd conduct with a child and for producing sexually exploitative material; the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association supported it, and members discussed the seriousness of the crimes and the effect of fading memories. The committee voted to send HB 681 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard from Terry Kirkham for reappointment to the Pardons and Parole Commission and Paula Gray for reappointment to the Sexual Offender Management Board; both described their prior service, and the committee said it would vote on those appointments at a later meeting. Senator Lent presented HB 491, expanding Good Samaritan immunity to include mental health and suicide emergency first aid, and HB 492, adding a juvenile justice or adult misdemeanor probation representative to the POST Council. Both bills drew little opposition and were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. Senator Kaiser presented HB 522 on unmanned aircraft systems near correctional facilities; after testimony from a drone industry representative and others raising concerns about federal law, commercial flights, and enforcement, the committee voted to send the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than advance it directly. The committee also advanced HB 570, which adds driving 20 mph or more over the limit in active school or construction zones to reckless driving when children or workers are present and visible. Supporters cited work zone safety and crashes, while some senators questioned whether the new standard was too subjective; the bill still received a due pass recommendation. HB 548 would require reasonable suspicion before law enforcement stops or boards a boat under the Idaho Safe Boating Act; the Idaho Sheriffs Association opposed it, arguing current boat safety checks are mostly consensual and tied to a federal grant program, but the committee sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, HB 654 would add electronic storage device canines to the definition of police dogs for purposes of protecting them from mistreatment; an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force commander testified in support, and the committee advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation.