Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Tuesday, May 26th, and this is a hearing of the House Transportation Committee.
• After visiting with LSP, Department of Corrections, our Department of Public Safety, we decided that
• I am a Transportation Policy Analyst at Reason Foundation. Thank you for the chance to speak.
• I am a transportation policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
• It is good to be back here with members of Transportation, House Transportation.

Bills: HR275, HR282, HCR112, SCR62, SCR64, SB513

Keywords: highway maintenance, signage, transportation safety, DOTD, infrastructure, public safety, federal grants, job creation, Utility Terrain Vehicles, UTVs, safety regulations, transportation, Louisiana, task force, vehicle operation, legislation, accidents, HCR112, House Concurrent Resolution 112, Louisiana Highway 1

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on May 26 with a quorum present and took up several resolutions and one Senate bill. SCR 64 created a task force to study construction management at risk (CMAR) in Louisiana public works; an amendment added representatives from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors, and the resolution was reported with amendments. HR 282 created a task force to study utility terrain vehicles with state agencies; an amendment added the State Fire Marshal, and it was also reported with amendments. The committee then considered SB 513 on public works project delivery methods. The bill originally included an average-bid award method for certain pilot projects, along with airport design-build provisions. Testimony from a Reason Foundation analyst and from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors raised concerns that average-bid contracting could encourage collusion, raise costs, and lacked supporting data or use by U.S. transportation departments, while airport design-build was supported. The committee adopted an amendment in concept to strike the average-bid provisions, leaving the airport-related design-build language in place, and SB 513 was reported with amendments by a vote of 11 yeas and 4 nays. The committee also reported SCR 62 favorably, which urges DOTD to evaluate school zones on state highways in response to safety concerns and near misses, including a fatal incident referenced by the author. HCR 112 was reported favorably to study flooding on Louisiana Highway 1 in Shreveport, and HR 275 was reported favorably to study an interstate highway signage maintenance and reporting program. The meeting concluded after all items were disposed of and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bike share systems are affordable and reliable public transportation, and the Healey-Driscoll administration
• And reliable public transportation, and the Healey-Driscoll administration has supported expanding bike
• We believe in multimodal transportation, and this is an affordable mode of transportation that the current
• This bill creates a balanced approach that supports transportation innovation while prioritizing public
• We can support cleaner, more affordable transportation options while ensuring our roads and public spaces

Bills: H5400, H5421, H5430, S3077, S3089

Keywords: Boston, easement, highway improvement, Woburn, Burlington, public safety, transportation, land transfer, vessel transportation, Marston Mills, Osterville, Barnstable, state highway, traffic safety, maritime regulation, local legislation, Hyannis Transportation Center, Thomas S. Cahir, Cape Cod, commemorative designation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hearing on five bills, centered on the governor’s Ride Safe Act and related micromobility legislation. Administration officials from MassDOT and the MBTA described the bill as a first-in-the-nation, speed-based framework for e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and similar devices, replacing outdated device categories with statewide rules on age, helmets, equipment, operating locations, registration/insurance for higher-speed devices, crash-data reporting, and battery safety standards. They said the goal was to improve safety and consistency without discouraging affordable, multimodal transportation or first-mile/last-mile transit connections. Committee members and several legislators asked about enforcement, data collection, battery fire risks, commuter rail accommodations, and how the bill would apply to shared-use paths. Some members supported the speed-based approach but raised concerns that the bill may need clearer path-speed limits, better education and enforcement tools, and more work on future regulations. Representatives and senators from affected districts testified in support, emphasizing rising complaints, youth injuries, and the need for uniform statewide rules. One senator urged quick action before summer, citing recent local incidents and the rapid growth of e-bike use. The micromobility commission panel, including bicycle, pedestrian, retail, and police representatives, largely supported the bill’s classification framework and crash-data provisions, but urged additional work on default path speed limits, automated enforcement, and funding for safer infrastructure. A police chief stressed the need for education, meaningful penalties, and training for officers. Two pediatric physicians strongly supported the bill but argued it should go further by adding a minimum age for faster devices and a universal helmet requirement, citing severe and increasing child injuries. UL Standards representatives endorsed the battery safety provisions and recommended tighter language requiring certification to recognized standards. Two members of the public who commute on vintage mopeds opposed the bill as written, arguing it unfairly excludes mopeds from micromobility protections and creates inconsistent treatment for similar low-speed vehicles. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires that the Department of Transportation notify the Transportation Commission if they are going
• Are you wanting the Transportation Commission to approve whether or not the Department of Transportation
• I will get back to you with that, but I know the Department of Transportation supports this because it
• They are bringing an outside party, the Transportation Commission, to vote on it and make a decision
• the FAA to actually put out some rules on part 108 and they're going through the Federal Register public

Bills: SB1475, SB2049, SB1966, SB1531, SB80

Keywords: memorial, infrastructure, transportation, dedication, Toby Keith, SB 2049, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, ODOT, Transportation Commission, surety bond, surety company, performance bond, contractor nonperformance, construction contract, public works, transportation contracts, bond claim, state transportation projects, Title 69, OMES

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires that the Department of Transportation notify the Transportation Commission if they're going
• I'm not fully following what you're— You're wanting the Transportation Commission to approve whether
• or not the Department of Transportation can make a claim against a contractor for non-performance.
• So the decision is not just solely on the Department of Transportation to make that decision.
• So this protects the Department of Transportation. Pursue legal action against the contractor.

Bills: SB1475, SB2049, SB1966, SB1531, SB80

Keywords: memorial, infrastructure, transportation, dedication, Toby Keith, SB 2049, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, ODOT, Transportation Commission, surety bond, surety company, performance bond, contractor nonperformance, construction contract, public works, transportation contracts, bond claim, state transportation projects, Title 69, OMES

Summary: The committee considered several naming and transportation-related bills. Senate Bill 1475 renamed the I-35 Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, and House Bill 1996 was the Senate’s Memorial Bridge naming bill; both passed without substantive opposition. Senate Bill 2049 required the Department of Transportation to notify the Transportation Commission before disapproving or making a surety claim against a contractor, with supporters describing it as an accountability and transparency measure; it passed after some questions about its purpose and sponsor. The committee also approved Senate Bill 1531, a cleanup measure related to the Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ role in unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility, in anticipation of possible FAA rulemaking. The most extensive discussion centered on Senate Bill 80, a turnpike bill that updates statutory language, removes some unused or unbuilt route locations from statute, and codifies more formal communication with landowners, communities, and legislators. Members raised concerns about removing routes, the five-year design deadline for reauthorization, and whether the bill could slow future turnpike projects; OTA Executive Director Joe E. Kelly testified that the changes were based on updated infrastructure studies, that the five-year requirement only needed design to begin, and that the notification process would include mailers and digital posting. Senate Bill 80 passed after debate, and the committee adjourned, noting it was the final meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, how's The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee will now come to order.
• One of them is the state transportation fund. One of them is our general budget.
• bond, it has to be voted on by the transportation commission.
• It would just raise it to the transportation commission, making that decision.
• It's referred to in statute as the Transportation Commission. My apologies.

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• Will be remitted to the Department of Public Safety.
• bond, it has to be voted on by the Transportation Commission.
• It's referred to in statute as the Transportation...
• And the Department of Transportation.
• So I'm still staying within the Department of Transportation.

Bills: SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: memorial highways, bridge designations, Oklahoma Statutes, commemorative markers, transportation, uninsured vehicles, reimbursement fund, towing services, commercial vehicles, public safety, memorial, infrastructure, dedication, Toby Keith, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee met during deadline week and heard several Senate bills. Senate Bill 1966, naming a bridge after Clyde and Grace Cook, was briefly explained by Senator Bullard and advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 1475, designating the I-35 and Indian Hills Road interchange as the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, also advanced after members confirmed the family’s support and clarified it was separate from a prior turnpike naming resolution. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 175, which creates an uninsured commercial vehicle recovery reimbursement fund to pay wreckers for cleaning up abandoned uninsured commercial vehicles. Members questioned the use of existing fee revenue, possible overlap with prior weigh station funding, and the $10,000 per-vehicle cap. Despite concerns, the bill advanced on an 8-3 vote. Senate Bill 1950, as amended, would prohibit using ADS-B aircraft tracking data to calculate or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators; the author said the goal was to preserve state registration revenue while preventing private third parties from using the data for fee collection. The bill advanced unanimously. Senate Bill 2049, as amended, would require the Transportation Commission rather than staff or the Attorney General to approve the decision to call a contractor’s bond on ODOT projects. Supporters said it adds oversight and protects staff, while opponents argued it is unnecessary and could delay action; it advanced 10-1. Senate Bill 2052 would update DPS commercial motor vehicle enforcement provisions, increase fines, and route appeals through the administrative process and then district court; members discussed fine levels, appeals, and related weigh station funding. It advanced 9-2, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every state has transportation needs and stands to benefit from the Surface Transportation Reauthorization
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
• on Surface Transportation now.
• A couple subjects with regard to surface transportation.
• transportation?

Keywords: surface transportation, infrastructure reauthorization, bipartisan collaboration, safety, federal programs, funding challenges, bureaucracy, transportation needs, critical projects, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the development of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Discussions centered around key principles aimed at improving the safety and reliability of the transportation network, reforming federal programs for efficiency, and addressing the diverse transportation needs across various states. Members emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration to streamline processes, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and ensure timely funding for critical infrastructure projects. There were also notable conversations about specific projects and funding challenges, reflecting the urgency for action and commitment to modernizing America's infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• To be the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation. If confirmed, Mr.
• More than many public servants, Mr.
• Work with me every day at the Department of Transportation.
• through the Department of Transportation.
• Bradbury's nomination to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

Keywords: transportation, air traffic control, safety regulations, Boeing 737 MAX, Department of Transportation, infrastructure funding, public safety, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed several pressing issues concerning transportation, particularly focusing on the need for improved safety standards and efficient management at the Department of Transportation. Specific discussions revolved around air traffic control, with members highlighting the urgency for a significant upgrade in systems and personnel. Notably, concerns were raised regarding past practices, especially the handling of safety regulations during the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The committee expressed a clear intent to ensure rigorous safety oversight moving forward, emphasizing that the health and safety of the public must remain the top priority in all legislative and funding decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Transportation Funding Subcommittee can take public comments on bills for discussion today.
• These kinds of projects include light rail, public transportation, and shared-use paths.
• It could be an example of light rail, public transportation, shared use paths, bikes, walking lanes,
• So in conclusion, I ask you to support these bills, recognizing the benefits of public transportation
• public transportation, bike lanes, and sidewalk improvements.

Bills: HJR58, HJR63, HB263, HB542, HB905, HB 1288, HB1402, HB2003, HB2262, HB2323, HB2429, HB2876, HB3019, HB263

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> policies that favor one transportation policies that favor one transportation mode<00:17:15.280>
• </c> legislation is public safety. legislation is public safety.
• </c><00:40:56.800><c> I</c> public policy manager for Whimo. I public policy manager for Whimo.
• I must rely on public transportation or someone to take me. blind.
• </c> transportation network vehicle. transportation network vehicle.

Bills: HF3553, HF3513, HF3576

Keywords: vehicle platooning, transportation, public safety, pilot project, Wilkin County, Grant County, autonomous vehicles, transportation regulations, driverless cars, safety standards, first responder interaction, school bus, third-party testing, driver certification, transportation regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1274 by Senator Sigley on transportation.
• and monitoring systems at public railroad crossings.
• services, the public transportation services, anything from your rail state, your high-speed rails all
• Rural communities can't afford public transit.
• Do we have any public testimony? We do.

Bills: S0828, S1274, S1310, S1378, S1562

Keywords: sovereign immunity, public transit, contractors, liability, state agents, transportation, traffic signal modernization, seaports, commercial space launch, micromobility, automated license plate recognition, railroad crossing safety, railroad crossings, grade crossing, public railroad-highway grade crossing, rail safety, crossing technology, advanced detection systems, monitoring systems, sensors

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several measures and adopted amendments on multiple bills. SB 1274, as amended, removed a number of provisions from the original bill and added items including local authority to lower residential street speed limits, clarification on obscured license plates, FDOT funding for certain rural airport aviation projects, limits on yellow-light timing changes tied to red-light cameras, changes to private use of license plate readers, and other transportation-related revisions. After brief questions and supportive testimony, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 1310, which was converted into a study bill directing FDOT to study advanced detection and monitoring systems at public railroad crossings and report findings and policy options to the governor and legislature. Railroad industry testimony supported the study but raised concerns about interoperability with train safety systems and suggested the study consider additional safety tools such as red-light cameras and wayside horns. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 828, as amended, would extend sovereign immunity protections to private contractors providing public transit services on behalf of governments, with supporters saying it would reduce costs and provide certainty for transit providers, while opponents warned it was an overbroad expansion of sovereign immunity and could conflict with railroad employee protections under federal law. The committee reported that bill favorably as well. The committee then passed SB 1378, which strengthens traffic enforcement by clarifying when vehicles may be treated as abandoned, adding penalties for unlawfully attached plates or stickers, and allowing forfeiture of vehicles used to flee law enforcement even without an immediate arrest. It also approved SB 1562, which aims to prevent manufacturers from concentrating sales of certain vehicle brands through a single dealer group and instead promote competition among independent dealers. In addition, the committee unanimously confirmed a slate of appointees, and members later recorded additional affirmative votes on several bills before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• a Minnesota transportation We're a Minnesota transportation advocacy<00:03:21.280><c> nonprofit</c><
• </c> public transit. public transit.
• Thank you. speed is a public health crisis. I know speed is a public health crisis.
• </c> car to keep the rest of the public safe. car to keep the rest of the public safe.
• The A2 front of transportation.

Bills: HF3429, HF3418, HF3431, HF1597

Keywords: intelligent speed assistance, transportation, speeding offenses, public safety, license restrictions, speed control, pedestrian safety, traffic safety, roadway improvements, nonmotorized transportation, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, complete streets, Vision Zero, Toward Zero Deaths, MnDOT, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, local road authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We will call to order today's meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee, Thursday, February 26,
• Before you is a proposed substitute Senate Bill 6005, the 2006 supplemental transportation budget heard
• This results in a $185,000 reduction to the state multimodal transportation account.
• We will move to a briefing on Senate Bill 6225, authorizing bonds for transportation funding.
• We will now move on to Senate Bill 6225, authorizing bonds for transportation funding.

Bills: SB6005, SB6225

Keywords: transportation budget, transportation appropriations, capital budget, supplemental budget, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferries, Puget Sound ferries, tolling, express toll lanes, highway safety, traffic safety, impaired driving, ignition interlock, speed cameras, transit funding, public transit, multimodal transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in executive session to review three measures: the proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6005, the supplemental transportation budget; Senate Bill 6225, authorizing additional transportation bonds; and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508, relating to the Office of Independent Investigations. Staff briefed eight amendments to SB 6005, including technical corrections, funding and reporting changes, and several project-specific additions such as ferry operations, rail projects, and bridge or electrification work. The committee also heard a briefing on SB 6225, which would increase bond authorizations, including general transportation bonds, gas tax bonds for Move Ahead Washington projects, and SR 520 bonds, while repealing some older authorizations. During executive session, the committee adopted all eight amendments to SB 6005, then rolled them into the substitute bill and advanced it with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee also advanced SB 6225 with a due-pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. ESHB 2508 was moved without recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Members concluded by thanking staff for their work on the budget and bond legislation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So being public facilities, the general public has the ability to do TPIA requests on airport matters
• , or the public can access that information.
• Many individuals with disabilities rely on public transportation as the primary mode of travel to get
• This is a public school? This is a public school? Public school I went to? Yes. Yes. Yes, sir.
• Transportation.

Bills: HB2007, HB2863, HB2921, HB3331, HB3332, HJR144, HB3514, HB3528, HB3720, HB3751, HB3859, HB3947, HB4148, HB4346, HB4880, HB5603, HB4337

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, vehicle title, revocation, hearing process, Transportation Code, county assessor-collector, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, vehicle regulation, transportation, steel industry, state fees, safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• We will close the committee on transportation. You know? You know, Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB1053

Keywords: North Dakota highway system, state roads, road mileage cap, transportation code, Department of Transportation, DOT, highway mileage limit, road classification, county roads, township roads, state highway network, Century Code section 24-01-01.2, infrastructure, public roads, transportation policy, 908, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 1298 and first discussed an amendment from Senator Paulson that would add variable electronic speed limit signs to the bill while leaving the 80-mile-an-hour provision unchanged. Members said the signs would be used on interstates I-29 and I-94 in selected problem areas, based on weather or accident conditions, and that the proposal would not require a fiscal note. The discussion then broadened to Senator Rummel’s concerns about related bills, especially 2243, 1250, and 1229. He argued that the House changes were removing municipal authority to double fines, lowering or eliminating points for serious traffic violations, and undoing prior Senate positions. Several members said they were willing to use HB 1298 as the vehicle to restore the earlier fine and point provisions, including the 29 violations previously assigned three points, and to avoid concurring with the House versions. Members did not take final action on the amendments or the bill. Instead, they agreed more work was needed and asked Legislative Council to prepare a combined amendment and options for the next meeting. The committee recessed and scheduled further discussion for the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a work session, followed by a public hearing, followed by executive session.
• Ecology can move forward with our public comment process.
• Labor supports efforts to create stable, long-term transportation funding because for our members, transportation
• account, to the Climate Commitment Act Transportation account.
• And they could do that. ...posing a health hazard to the public.

Bills: HB2495

Keywords: vehicles, streetcar operation, public safety, urban regulation, transportation, 904, all

Summary: The committee began with a work session on Yakima-area transportation projects, focusing on I-82 capacity improvements and the East-West Corridor project. WSDOT described congestion on I-82 near Yakima and plans to add lanes and improve interchanges, while Yakima County and Ecology discussed the long-running East-West Corridor bridge project over the Yakima River and through the Boise Cascade mill site. County and Ecology witnesses said cleanup of contaminated wood waste and soil at the mill site is the main remaining issue; Ecology said it is waiting for a draft work plan from the county before finalizing a de minimis consent decree, while the county said it is waiting on Ecology to clarify the preliminary cleanup level. Senators pressed both agencies to resolve the issue and move the project forward, and the committee then heard an update on the SR 3/Belfair freight corridor, where WSDOT said environmental review is complete and the next step is an access hearing, followed by right-of-way acquisition, with construction now estimated for late 2027 or early 2028 if acquisition proceeds on schedule. The public hearing was on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill that largely parallels earlier Senate legislation but also includes changes to the luxury vehicle and recreational vessel taxes, the timing of certain account transfers, tolling provisions, and other transportation policy items. Testimony was mixed: aviation groups and the Port of Seattle supported repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and asked for related aviation funding provisions; Sound Transit and labor representatives urged adding 75-year bonding authority; Alaska Airlines and Delta asked for mobile driver’s license language; the trucking association sought rollback of the diesel tax increase; and Cascade Bicycle Club asked for continued funding for bike safety education. Opponents focused on fuel-tax costs and automatic tax increases, while supporters emphasized revenue stability, transit delivery, and aviation competitiveness. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills with due pass recommendations, including SHB 1823 on Transportation Improvement Board provisions, SHB 2114 on defective license plates, E2SHB 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts, SHB 2323 creating a blue envelope program, SHB 2410 creating a commercial truck safety and education council, EHB 2588 on county ferry district authority, SSB 1923 on passenger-only ferries, and HB 2495 on vehicle removal near streetcar operations. Amendments were adopted on E2SHB 2251, EHB 2588, and SSB 1923, and the chair noted a Wednesday morning executive action meeting with amendment requests due the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to welcome everyone to this public hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland
• This public hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
• committed to public safety.
• They're students experiencing homelessness who have the legal right to be transported to their public
• Massachusetts is facing a student transportation crisis with increasing transportation costs.

Bills: S2743, S2861, S3021

Keywords: domestic violence, police training, suspicious deaths, homicide investigation, victim support, school bus safety, commission, student safety, operator training, safety standards, Legislative oversight, public health, student transportation, school bus, school pupil transportation, pupil transport, child passenger safety, school van, transportation contractor, motor vehicle safety

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing with opening remarks from Senators Cronin and Cahill, member introductions, and instructions limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several bills, including S. 2743 addressing staged suicides in domestic violence cases, S. 2861 creating a special commission on school bus safety, and S. 3021 updating Massachusetts student transportation rules. On S. 2743, witnesses including Elizabeth Sherin Feiner and Susan Altman described cases in which domestic abuse deaths were initially misclassified as accidents or suicides, arguing that standardized protocols, training, and closer scrutiny of suspicious deaths would help law enforcement and medical examiners identify staged scenes and prevent perpetrators from escaping accountability. Committee members asked about how the bill would affect current police and medical examiner practices, and legislators noted that sudden deaths are already investigated through the chief medical examiner and district attorneys, while acknowledging the need for better training and awareness. On S. 2861, Amanda Taylor testified emotionally about the death of her daughter Summer Steele, who was killed when a school bus door closed on her backpack and she was run over, and urged adoption of anti-pinch sensor technology on new buses. Representative Sabadosa and later Nicholas Lusk of Mazer USA supported the bill, saying the technology already exists, is used in other transportation sectors, and could prevent similar tragedies. On S. 3021, representatives from Ever Driven and Chamber of Progress supported modernizing student transportation rules to allow smaller vehicles for homeless, foster, and disabled students while keeping core safety requirements, arguing the change would reduce costs and improve access without lowering safety. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with adjournment after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the folks watching at home, the Transportation Funding Committee can take public comments on bills
• We were losing transportation.
• Roadways are more than transportation routes; they are vital infrastructure for public safety, law enforcement
• In addition, all of our goods are transported... ...transported across these roads, which will increase
• toll without a public vote on tolls.

Bills: HB1589, HB2208, HB2297, HB2560, HB2725, HB3080, HB4417, HB4473, HB4520, HB4662, HB4888, HB4905, HB4906

Keywords: HB 1589, toll road, toll project, toll project entity, voter approval, local control, county election, commissioners court, Transportation Code, Chapter 372, road construction, highway funding, infrastructure, public referendum, ballot measure, transportation policy, Texas toll roads, regional mobility, toll collection, vehicle registration

Bills: SB 39, SB 2129, SB 2141, SB 2246, SB 2323, SB 2439, SB 2722

Keywords: railroad, train, collision, information disclosure, safety, driver's license, reporting, off-highway vehicles, public land, safety certificate, transportation, Parks and Wildlife Code, tolls, county revenue, civil penalty, ad valorem tax, transportation funding

Transcript Highlights:

• This is relating to transportation.
• We sent in our of transportation.
• >> I don't see you on—uh, let's proceed then with a judiciary followed by public defender. transport
• Okay.<00:49:10.720><c> Public</c><00:49:11.119><c> defender.</c> Okay. Public defender. Okay.
• </c><02:01:39.520><c> Y</c> and UTV use on public streets. Y and UTV use on public streets.

Bills: HB1694, HB1695, HB1986, HB1797, HB1879, HB2034

Keywords: sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, Hawaii, economic development, carbon footprint, aviation sector, renewable fuels, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation, clean fuel standard, alternative fuels, carbon intensity, emission reduction, greenhouse gases, transportation, autonomous vehicles

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a two-minute oral testimony limit and that decision-making would follow after testimony. It then took up SB 20008, which would set 55 mph as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the DKI/Saddle Road highway. The bill’s introducer described it as a response to safety concerns and noted prior public opposition when the speed limit was lowered from 60 mph; the Hawaii Police Department was listed in opposition, while DOT and several individuals testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 20009, requiring new plates/tags or emblems for used motor vehicles transferred between private individuals, and SB 2026, which would require drivers approaching stationary vehicles on the shoulder or roadside to slow down and, if necessary, change lanes. The Attorney General supported SB 2026 but recommended narrowing and clarifying the language by removing references to shoulder/roadside, collision or mechanical problem, and other limiting definitions so the duty would apply more broadly and be easier to enforce; AAA and OMA also supported the measure. Members discussed the practical need for a mandatory move-over rule, especially for roadside workers and tow operators, and the committee heard concerns about enforceability on two-lane roads and in accident scenes. SB 2053 was then heard, authorizing electronic signatures on supporting documents used to transfer ownership of total-loss vehicles to insurers without notarization and requiring insurers to indemnify the finance director for claims arising from those electronic title issuances. The Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, the City and County of Honolulu, and others supported the bill, with Copart describing it as a modernization that would reduce delays for total-loss settlements; technical amendments were requested. The committee also heard SB 2172, which would allow all-terrain vehicles to operate at night if equipped with lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem, adjust helmet requirements, define utility terrain vehicles, and include ATVs in motor vehicle insurance law. DOT said it could support the bill only if limited to low-speed areas, and the insurance industry warned it could create a new insurance scheme; the City and County of Honolulu opposed while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and an individual supported. Finally, SB 2253 was introduced to expand first-degree negligent injury to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, with DOT, county prosecutors, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office in support; Honolulu prosecutors said they would oppose a proposed amendment because they wanted the language to preserve the offense as a lesser included offense tied to negligent homicide.