Agency state legislative analyst Gus Khouri, federal legislative analysts Paul Schlesinger and Perrin Badini, and staff will provide updates on state and federal legislation and seek Committee input on recommended positions on draft legislation.
The updated state bill list (attachment 1) includes several new bills that align with the Agency's adopted legislative program (web attachment 1). Changes to the list since the Board adoption on May 26 are indicated via strike-out and underline. A few bills were deleted from the list as they no longer relate to TAMC priorities. Several bills are now two-year bills, which mean they could move forward in January 2022, so they will stay on the list unless amended to no longer relate to TAMC priorities. The budget trailer bills moved quickly to the Governor's desk and are on the list for informational purposes only.
The following bills are now recommended for a new or changed position:
- Assembly Bill (AB) 122 (Boerner Horvath): Vehicles: required stops: bicycles - recommend "support" position. AB 122 would legalize the bicycle safety stop (also known as the stop-as-yield). AB 122 will help all road users share the road more safely. The safety stop is proven to increase safety for people on bikes. Delaware had a 23% reduction in accidents involving people on bikes after legalizing the safety stop. The safety stop is legal in several other states: Idaho, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arkansas, North Dakota, and Colorado.
- Senate Bill (SB) 69 (McGuire): North Coast Railroad Authority: right-of-way: Great Redwood Trail Agency: Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District - this bill is intended to be the vehicle to allow SMART to be a multi-county/ intercity rail operator, to facilitate extensions of the SMART corridor. While not directly relevant to TAMC, we are part of the larger rail megaregion with SMART and recommend supporting our partner agency in this effort. Staff recommends a "support if amended" position.
- SB 771 (Becker): Sales and Use Tax Law: zero emissions vehicle exemption - TAMC previously opposed this bill unless it would be amended to reimburse TAMC for lost Measure X revenues. The bill was amended to apply only to state sales taxes, which removes TAMC opposition. New recommended position is "watch".
Attachment 2 is a state legislative update, summarizing activities related to the Brown Act, the state budget, and the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI). Web attachment 2 is the full CAPTI.
On the federal front, the House passed the $759 billion "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act" or the "INVEST in America Act", HR 3684, on July 1. Attachment 3 is a federal legislative update focused on infrastructure, budget and appropriations.
Caltrans is leading an effort to have a unified letter to Congress representing California transportation priorities and is requesting transportation agencies to sign on to the letter. Attachment 4 is an early draft of the letter. Staff will provide an updated draft to the Committee prior to the meeting to consider recommending the Board support the letter.
Staff will provide a verbal update on all activities at the meeting.