2019 Rural Transportation Advocacy Council Legislative Update
On behalf of the Government Relations Committee we would like to share this legislative information from RTAC.
-Co-Chairs Rebecca Timmer and Ben Bitter
To receive regular email updates from the Rural Transportation Advocacy Council, email kadam@rtac.net.
WEEK STARTS WITH A LOT OF FLOOR ACTIVITY ON TRANSPORTATION BILLS:
There was a considerable amount of activity on transportation bills late last week and today at the state legislature.
HB2047, sponsored by Rep. David Cook would have redistributed $18 million in HURF revenue to the smallest counties and municipalities. It was amended late last week to eliminate the HURF redistribution and appropriate $60 million in general funds to all counties and municipalities for transportation infrastructure. The funding would be split evenly between counties and municipalities and floors of $1.5 million per county and $150,000 per municipality are set. The bill passed the House 60-0 today and is ready to be sent to the Senate.
HB2320, SB1001 Despite the Governor’s veto threat, bills to repeal or reduce the Highway Safety Fee continue to advance. HB2320 sponsored by Rep. Noel Campbell would reduce and cap the fee at $18. The bill passed the House today 57-3 and is on its way to the Senate. SB1001, sponsored by Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita, would repeal the fee and passed the Senate back on February 11th. It was scheduled for a hearing in the House Transportation Committee last week but was held. HB2320 appropriates general fund revenue to pay for Highway Patrol next year while SB1001 specifies the general fund as Highway Patrol’s permanent funding source. Due to the general fund provisions in both bills, it is highly unlikely that HURF raids will surface in the budget bills this year. However, in the long run, this statutory language will be no more effective for protecting HURF than the current statutory caps of $20 million per year from HURF and the State Highway Fund, so any language that limits the fee and prevents it from fully funding Highway Patrol will not provide effective long-term protection for HURF.
SB1141, SB1165 Bills to prohibit distracted driving and texting while driving have passed the Senate. Today, SB1141, sponsored by Senator J.D. Mesnard, prohibiting distracted driving, passed the Senate 16-13. Last week, SB1165 sponsored by Senator Kate Brophy McGee, prohibiting texting while driving, passed the Senate 20-10. Both bills have been sent to the House for consideration.
An updated bill matrix current through today is below.
