Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair, members, Senate Bill 431 by Senator Foil requires tow-truck companies to be open seven days
• But I'm trying to be reasonable, listening to the tow truck people and working a balanced approach.
• And so there is a weekend fee that the Public Service Commission authorizes the tow truck people to charge
• Right, but do they pay when the tow truck comes? I mean, I've been towed in another state before.
• If you were towed from a police tow, it got you, or a private property tow.

Bills: HCR96, SB431

Keywords: roundabout, traffic safety, public education, driving rules, Louisiana Department of Transportation, SB 431, Act 768, towing, tow truck companies, storage fees, nonconsensual towing, private property towing, vehicle release, impound, vehicle storage, gate fees, consumer protection, Louisiana State Police, Public Service Commission, stored vehicles

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 431 by Senator Foil. The bill, as amended in the House, would apply only to non-consensual private-property tows and require towing companies to have someone available on weekends to release vehicles within 90 minutes of a call if they want to charge storage fees for Saturday and Sunday. Senator Foil said the measure was intended to help vehicle owners retrieve cars and belongings sooner, while not forcing companies to stay open; Lieutenant John Nelson of Louisiana State Police explained that payment would still occur at the yard and that the bill did not change the fee structure. Amy Seals of Riverside Towing opposed the bill, citing safety concerns, burdens on office staff, and fairness issues because it would not cover police-initiated tows; she suggested limiting weekend release hours to daytime. Despite her concerns, the committee moved SB 431 favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Concurrent Resolution 96 by Representative Adams, which urges the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles, to provide educational materials on proper roundabout use. Adams said the resolution was meant to help drivers in smaller parishes and elsewhere who struggle with roundabouts. Several members supported the idea, noting confusion about roundabout navigation in their areas, and one member asked whether driver education already covers the topic. The resolution was moved favorably without objection. Before adjourning, the chair recognized a new DOTD staff member and a visitor from the Florida Women’s Republican group. Representative Spells then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Bills: SB1684, SB1443, SB1447, SB378, SB1920

Keywords: SB1684, Oklahoma Highway Remediation and Cleanup Services Act, highway cleanup, roadway remediation, tow truck, wrecker service, liability insurance, DEQ, Department of Environmental Quality, motor vehicles, licensing, public safety, cleanup operators, roadside services, commercial towing, insurance requirement, license fee, revocation, suspension, Turnpike Authority

Summary: The committee considered several bills and moved each one forward without opposition. Senate Bill 1684, presented by Representative Bayshore, would require highway remediation companies to carry at least $3 million in liability insurance before entering roadways to protect the public; it passed 6-0 and was recommended to the next committee. Senate Bill 378, also presented by Bayshore, would modernize the multi-county bail bonds statute by adding flexibility in writing capacity and strengthening financial oversight and transparency; it passed 6-0 and was recommended for the floor. Senate Bill 1447, presented by Representative Marti, would change requirements for the RFP for the state employee prescription drug plan. Marti used the presentation to sharply criticize the State Chamber and outside messaging about the bill, arguing the legislation would not raise drug costs and that similar laws in other states have produced savings; the bill passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1920, presented by Representative Tedford, would raise the salvage title threshold for autos from 60% to 70% to align more closely with neighboring states and avoid prematurely totaling vehicles; it passed 6-0 and was sent to the next committee. After a brief suspension, the committee took up Senate Bill 1443, presented by Representative Sneed on behalf of Chairman Chad Caldwell, which concerns anesthesia services. No questions or debate were raised, and the bill passed 6-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• motorcycle must reenter traffic lanes if the shoulder is occupied by a parked vehicle, emergency vehicle, tow
• truck, or other vehicle providing roadside assistance.
• My tires are more expensive than tires on my truck. I'm going to get back on the road.
• rate of speed, and to not have... ...at a deliberate rate of speed, and to not have, you know, semi-trucks

Bills: HB1367, HB2172, HB2718, HB2139, HB2192, HB2307, HB2379, HB2467, HB2495, HB2604

Keywords: motorcycle safety, right shoulder, shoulder riding, limited access roadway, freeway, expressway, highway congestion, lane splitting, traffic safety, RCW, Washington traffic law, roadside assistance, emergency vehicles, tow truck, congested traffic, motorcyclist, route jurisdiction, abandonment, transportation, local governance

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Washington State Transportation Commission’s route jurisdiction transfer study. Staff explained that counties own about 49% of center lane miles, cities 22%, and the state 9%, and that only 16 route jurisdiction transfers have occurred since the process began in 1991. The study found the current state highway system is generally well connected and did not need wholesale realignment, but recommended clarifying statutory criteria, improving the transfer process, and strengthening interagency coordination and recordkeeping. Members discussed why transfers happen, who pays for transferred roads, and how the Legislature should handle abandonments and major decommissionings. House Bill 2172 was then heard, which would fold large abandonments into the RJT process, require pre-request conferences, add cost/risk reporting, update highway criteria, and require legislative approval for certain decommissionings. Support came from Tacoma, the Transportation Commission, counties, cities, and the Transportation Improvement Board, while the sponsor said a substitute would narrow the bill so agreed transfers could proceed without final legislative approval. The committee next heard House Bill 1367, which would allow motorcycles to travel on the right shoulder of limited-access highways in slow or stopped traffic, subject to speed limits and other restrictions. The bill’s substitute would limit shoulder use to wider shoulders, require hazard lights, bar overtaking on the shoulder, and assign liability for debris-related damage to the rider while shielding governments from claims. Testimony was sharply divided: motorcycle advocates and some riders said the bill would reduce fatigue, heat stress, and rear-end risk, while the State Patrol and WSDOT opposed it as unsafe, especially because shoulders are used for emergencies, maintenance, and incident response and may contain debris. The Department of Licensing and WSDOT described potential implementation and maintenance costs. Substitute House Bill 2174 would create local or state “crash prevention zones” on roads with repeated serious collisions or fatalities, require public notice and an engineering/traffic study, increase enforcement, and impose a $73 penalty for certain infractions in the zone, with revenue dedicated to safety improvements. The sponsor said it was intended as a temporary tool for dangerous corridors such as Highway 395 and Highway 12, while counties and cities supported the concept but asked for liability protections similar to the Senate companion bill. Finally, House Bill 2718 proposed major permitting and project-delivery reforms for transportation projects, including deadlines for agency permit meetings and decisions, early tribal and local consultation, deemed approval in some cases, a public contractor rating website, and a report on further streamlining ideas. The sponsor framed it as a “shot clock” approach to reduce delays and costs, and members raised questions about how the contractor ratings would work and whether the bill would alter existing performance review systems.

Bills: SB1684, SB1443, SB1447, SB378, SB1920

Keywords: SB1684, Oklahoma Highway Remediation and Cleanup Services Act, highway cleanup, roadway remediation, tow truck, wrecker service, liability insurance, DEQ, Department of Environmental Quality, motor vehicles, licensing, public safety, cleanup operators, roadside services, commercial towing, insurance requirement, license fee, revocation, suspension, Turnpike Authority

Bills: SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966

Keywords: motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, auxiliary driving lamps, spot lamps, off-road lamps, bicycle lights, bicycle reflectors, vehicle lighting, roadway visibility, low visibility, rain, snow, wipers, night driving, traffic safety, Oklahoma Title 47, vehicle code

Bills: SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966

Keywords: motor vehicle safety, headlamps, headlights, fog lights, daytime running lights, auxiliary driving lamps, spot lamps, off-road lamps, bicycle lights, bicycle reflectors, vehicle lighting, roadway visibility, low visibility, rain, snow, wipers, night driving, traffic safety, Oklahoma Title 47, vehicle code

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee met and heard several transportation- and licensing-related bills. Senate Bill 1772, by Senator Peterson, would require headlights from sunset to sunrise and whenever windshield wipers are in use; after brief discussion about automatic headlights and enforcement, it advanced 8-4. Senate Bill 1958, by Senator Standridge, designated the I-35/Flood Avenue interchange as the Patrolman Mark Harris Memorial Interchange; after a question about the wording on the sign, it advanced unanimously 12-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2010, which would require non-citizen applicants to provide proof of lawful presence, mark limited-term Real IDs, and require an annual report. Members raised concerns about definitions, proof requirements, and whether the language matched the stated intent; the author agreed to strike the title and work on the language, and the bill advanced 11-1. Senate Bill 1595, described as a consumer protection/accountability measure for CDL training schools and grant administration, drew questions about steering students, agency recommendations, and whether lists of schools would still be allowed; it also advanced 11-1. Senate Bill 1687 would allow commercial driver training entities to proctor the written exam, and it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1684, which requires companies doing highway remediation to carry liability insurance, was amended to set the minimum coverage at $3 million and to specify liability insurance; after discussion about subcontractors and safety, it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1996, a memorial highway and bridge naming bill, was laid over after a question about whether the honoree was law enforcement, first responder, or military. The committee also announced that SB 1950 and SB 2052 would be laid over, and that it would meet again the following week to finish remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• that touched me, my faith in Minnesota, where on a Sunday morning an individual simply rammed the truck

Bills: HB2, HB163, SB326, HB17, HB363, HB2, HB163, SB326, HB17, HB363, SB333

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, sheriff, credit card, debit card, financial procedures, Jackson County, purchasing authority, HB17, Alabama Squat Truck Law, squat truck

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current Texas laws, law enforcement may ticket the individual but lacks the authority to tow a
• Senate Bill 857 by Senator Schwartner would grant. discretion to tow vehicles if the driver is unlicensed

Bills: HB5097, HB5513, SB523, SB857, SB964, SB1101, SB2143, SB2332, SB2383, HB 1108

Keywords: criminal history, background checks, government code, licensing, information access, rural law enforcement, child care grants, community support, law enforcement retention, advisory committee, SB 523, Texas driver’s license, alternative address, residential address, confidential address, address confidentiality, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Transportation Code, Section 521.1211

Transcript Highlights:

• This, uh, this bill increases a criminal penalty for overweight fuel trucks.
• have to pay, are overloading trucks beyond even the overweight permit level of 125,000 pounds.
• However, many of these trucks are being stopped at weighing nearly 150,000 pounds.
• John Esparza, I'm here on behalf of the Texas Trucking Association.
• We build water trucks, dump trucks, rollbacks, and we put that on the chassis, and then we deliver those

Bills: SB 35, SB 1113, SB 1365, SB 1394, SB 2243, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2199, SB 2200

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• Weight of full fuel trucks.
• to pay, are overloading trucks beyond even the overweight permit level of 125,000.
• John Esparza here on behalf of the Texas Trucking Association.
• We build water trucks, dump trucks, rollbacks, and we put that on the chassis, and then we deliver those
• A franchise dealership to convert a truck. That's our question exactly.

Bills: SB35, SB1113, SB1365, SB1394, SB2243, SB2245, SB2589, SB2199, SB2200, SB 35

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• You have before you House Bill 3369, dealing with food trucks relevant to the fire code.
• It was an unintended consequence, and food truck owners across the state thought that I was out to shut
• I talked to some LP gas representatives at a community meeting with dozens of food trucks.
• As well, I just want to make sure that the food truck industry can have access to a licensed plumber
• We have certain districts even represented at this table where there are national food trucks that get

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, my understanding is you cannot be towed.
• May tow discretionary authority on the part of, on the part of.
• And the car is towed. How does that... Doesn't get home.
• The other issue is what happens to that person just after the car is towed?
• Emergency police, vehicles, fire, amulets, tow trucks, tech stock trucks, utility trucks, municipal..

Bills: SB35, SB284, SB296, SB305, SB857, SB995, SB1121, SB1555, SB1902, SCR25, SB 35

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• You talk about funeral homes, road maintenance employees, crime scene cleaners, the towing companies,

Bills: SB1226, SB1456, SB1462, SB1463, SB1980, SB1479, SB1608, SB1923, HB2979, HB2980, HB3662, HB4107, HB3082, HB2997, HB3083, HB3055, HB2951

Keywords: motor vehicle, accident, notification, liability, civil action, gender neutral, SB1456, Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, sunset extension, sunset law, breath alcohol testing, DUI, DWI, drunk driving, drug testing, chemical testing, field sobriety, roadside screening, blood test, saliva test

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, how many on average, how many trucks, commercial trucks do you cross on a daily basis?
• So imports and exports, but give me that number again, 5500 to 6000 trucks, 5000 to 6000 trucks daily
• Representative Paul, yeah, are these trucks, the ones that roll, are any of the overweight trucks gonna
• be fuel trucks carrying flammable fuels?
• Um, we're talking thousands of trucks, aren't we? Yes sir.

Bills: HB 767, HB 1242, HB 1373, HB 1404, HB 1708, HB 1936, HB 2041, HB 2198, HB 2270, HB 2315, HB 2415, HB 2427, HB 2455, HB 2457, HB 2522, HB 2523, HB 2686, HB 2763, HB 2775, HB 2944, HB 3034, HB 1683, HB 1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, on average, how many commercial trucks do you cross on a daily basis?
• Number again, 5,500 to 6,000 trucks? 5,500 to 6,000 trucks daily that you cross through there?
• a five-axle truck.
• Are these trucks, the ones that roll, are any of the overweight trucks going to be fuel trucks carrying
• Or fuel trucks that are overweight. Would any of those be a safety issue?

Bills: HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• My truck got hit pretty bad, but I was moving just fast enough where it hit me in the back instead of
• The other side over there is Ellis County once you turn that little corner, but if you ever get a truck
• He immediately answered the call while traveling west on FM-969 when a semi-truck made a U-turn.
• He was traveling down FM 969 when the decision of a semi-truck driver to do an unsafe U-turn ultimately
• I mean, if you're a truck driver, then you have to use a driver's license, whereas I'm not required to

Bills: HB767, HB 1242, HB1373, HB1404, HB1708, HB1936, HB2041, HB2198, HB2270, HB2315, HB2415, HB2427, HB2455, HB2457, HB2522, HB2523, HB2686, HB2763, HB2775, HB2944, HB3034, HB1683, HB1695

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, HB 1242, Texas Transportation Code, U.S. Highway 281, Brooks County, Ernesto Soliz Cantu, memorial highway, road naming, TxDOT, road signage, commemorative resolution, memorial markers, county road 304, Huppergate Road, Los Robles Trail, Farm-to-Market Road

Transcript Highlights:

• Transloading, typically the truck-to-truck transfer of fuel, is frequently used to consolidate loads
• Are the trucks coming across overweight trucks?
• But to us, an overweight truck is an overweight truck. It depends on the axles, obviously.
• use two 80,000 pound trucks and overload them to one Mexican truck.
• A lot of these trucks in Mexico, they're the three-axle trucks, right?

Bills: SB2199, SB2200, SB2201, SB2949, SB2332

Keywords: overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, John Esparza, representing the Texas Trucking Association, voting in favor, sir.

Bills: SB2199, SB2200, SB2201, SB2949, SB2332

Keywords: overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route

Transcript Highlights:

• John Asparza, representing the Texas Trucking Association, voting in favor, sir.

Bills: SB2199, SB2200, SB2201, SB2949, SB2332

Keywords: overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security heard several bills related to border security, law enforcement databases, DPS aviation maintenance, and transportation motor fuels. SB 2199, after brief invited testimony from the Texas Trucking Association and DPS, was left pending at first and later reported favorably to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote. SB 2332, relating to aircraft owned and operated by the Department of Public Safety, was laid out by Senator Parker, with DPS and TechSOT witnesses explaining that it would centralize DPS aircraft maintenance under DPS, align state law with FAA responsibility rules, and potentially reduce costs and downtime; it was later reported favorably on a 5-0 vote and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 2949, relating to the regulation of transportation motor fuels, was also adopted as a committee substitute and reported favorably on a 4-1 vote, with a member noting continued interest in refining port-of-entry transloading issues. The committee spent the most time on SB 2201, which would revise Texas intelligence database criteria for criminal street gangs and foreign terrorist organizations. Senator Birdwell described the bill as adding safeguards such as requiring officer identification on submissions, setting retention and validation rules, and updating criteria to reflect technology and social media use. Invited witnesses from the district attorney’s office, DPS, and the Texas Anti-Gang Center generally supported the bill and said it would improve reliability and accountability. Public testimony included support from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas, which argued the bill’s language on implied or demonstrated self-admission and other criteria was vague, overly broad, and could lead to erroneous inclusion in the database and downstream consequences. After debate, SB 2201 was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Eckhardt voting no. During questioning on SB 2201, members discussed how gang-database entries are used in investigations and prosecutions, the meaning of “family member,” the scope of self-admission, and how “previously documented areas” would be identified in practice. Opponents raised concerns about due process, First and Fourth Amendment issues, racial profiling, and possible federal consequences if state database information is shared. Supporters emphasized that the database is a law-enforcement tool for identifying organized criminal activity and that the committee substitute adds training, audits, and accountability measures. The committee then completed its business and recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just worry, you know, of course, I would think a tow truck driver would err on the side of caution
• Are we requiring the tow truck companies to show or demonstrate that they're using safe storage when
• got towed by several months ago.
• We have a lot of great tow truck companies and understand that we're putting more safety standards on
• We have a lot of great tow truck companies and understand that we're putting more safety standards on

Bills: S0260, S1220, S1352, S1362, S1370

Keywords: electric vehicle, EV, battery fire, lithium-ion battery, towing, wrecker service, vehicle storage, submerged vehicle, saltwater damage, fire marshal, fire safety, tow yard, impound, storage fee, administration fee, local ordinance, county ordinance, municipal ordinance, insurance coverage, motor vehicle insurer

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as a framework for vertiports and eVTOL aircraft, but an amendment removed the sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity provisions to vertiports co-located at airports. Supporters said the bill would help Florida lead in emerging aviation technology, while opponents and some members raised concerns about safety, local control, and extending immunity to unproven facilities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 260 on storage of damaged electric vehicles. The bill, as amended, would allow local governments to set a daily administrative fee of up to three times the normal rate for storing EVs with visible battery damage or saltwater intrusion, reflecting fire-safety spacing requirements. Testimony from insurers, towing interests, and fleet operators focused on whether the fee was justified, whether cleanup language could lead to cost shifting, and whether more data reporting should be required. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizures and related DMV functions, preserves disabled veterans’ plate designations, prohibits license plate covers that obscure plates, and routes online license and ID renewals through county tax collectors. SB 1370 was also reported favorably; it closes a loophole so drivers who never obtained a license can still face habitual traffic offender penalties after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee took up SB 1220, a broad FDOT transportation package. After amendment, it retained provisions on trails, SunTrail, seaports, airports, drone delivery, autonomous vehicle protections, and FDOT coordination on federal funding, while removing the digital driver’s license provision and the rapid rail compact language. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.