Hello everyone,
There is a little over a week left in the legislative session and bills are really starting to move with the rush to get bills passed before midnight on May 7th.
On Monday, both the House and the Senate adopted the conference report on the Long Bill and repassed the bill. It’s now before the Governor for his consideration. Later Monday, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee acted on SB 281 Increase Penalties Careless Driving. (The Committee had heard testimony on the bill the week before last.) SB 281 changes the penalty for careless driving causing death from a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense to a class 6 felony under certain circumstances. The Committee made some helpful amendments and referred SB 281 to the Senate Appropriations Committee; however, additional amendments are needed. The CSPA still has an amend position on SB 281.
One of CSPA’s priority bills (and a State Patrol agenda bill) passed the House this week. SB 036 State Patrol Bonding Exception codifies current practice and instead of requiring the State Patrol to secure a bond for all troopers allows the State Division of Risk Management to cover troopers. The House passed SB 036 on second reading on Tuesday and third reading on Wednesday on a vote of 64 to 0. SB 036 previously passed the Senate unanimously and since it was not amended in the House now goes to the Governor.
Another bill the CSPA supports is moving again. SB 069 Tire Chain Traction Control Device Permit creates a permit to allow private companies to install or remove tire chains at certain locations for a fee to be paid for by the driver of the motor vehicle. On Monday, the Senate passed SB 069 on third reading on a vote of 33 to 2. Later Monday, it was introduced in the House and assigned to the House Transportation Committee. On Tuesday, House Transportation heard the bill and referred it unamended to the House Finance Committee on a vote of 12 to 1. On Thursday, the House Finance Committee referred SB 069 unamended to the House Appropriations Committee on a vote of 10 to 3. It’s scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning.
Also last week, the House Transportation Committee unanimously referred SB 187 Sunset MOST Program to the House Appropriations Committee. The CSPA supports SB 187. As referred to House Transportation, SB 187 would have continued the MOST Program for 9 more years (until September 1, 2034). The House Transportation Committee, based on stakeholder input, amended the bill to continue the MOST Program for 5 more years (until September 1, 2030) and to allow the Chief of the State Patrol to fund tuition assistance for eligible students. It’s scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning.
So far, there have been 651 bills introduced – 334 in the House and 317 in the Senate. Only 9 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist