Attached online are a state update from Agency legislative consultant Gus Khouri and an updated draft bill list. Two additions from the list adopted by the TAMC Board of Directors on June 24, 2020 are shown in underline:
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Senate Bill (SB) 288 (Wiener), California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions, known as the Sustainable Transportation COVID-19 Recovery Act. Staff recommends a support position, and recommends the Executive Committee adopt a position on behalf of the Board of Directors given the urgency of this legislation.
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SB 1459 (Caballero), State Route 183 relinquishment, would authorize the relinquishment of a segment of State Route 183 to the City of Salinas. Staff recommends a support position.
Two other bills, Assembly Bill (AB) 2323 (Friedman) and SB 1351 (Beall) have both been substantially amended since the Board adopted positions. Staff will discuss the amendments and seek Executive Committee input as to whether a change in position is warranted due to the amendments.
The TAMC-sponsored bill, Senate Bill 1231 by Senator Monning, which will allow the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an incidental take permit for the Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander for the purpose of enabling Caltrans to construct the State Route 156 West corridor project, passed the Senate on June 11 and is now progressing through the Assembly.
Federal transportation authorization legislation is moving forward via the House Resolution (H.R.) 2, the Moving Forward Act (see web attachments 3, 4 and 5). The Moving Forward Act marks a transformational investment in American infrastructure that would create millions of jobs, take bold action on the climate crisis, and address disparities in urban, suburban, and rural communities across our country. The White House has threatened to veto it if it were to pass through the Senate, which in itself seems unlikely at this juncture.
On July 8, the House Appropriations Committee passed its Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill for fiscal year 2021 (see web attachment 6).
Senate bill 2404 (S. 2404), the Build Local Hire Local Act (see web attachment 7), was introduced in July 2019.
Staff will provide a verbal update on all activities at the meeting.