Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: You're live.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: And this is Senate Transportation. We're resuming our testimony with Damian Leonard, and we're on two, s two eleven.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: So for the record, again, I'm David Leonard from the office of legislative council. So this is a strike all amendment of s two eleven that would require a report on two year motor vehicle inspections, and an implementation plan. So it would require the secretary's transportation and natural resources to develop a plan to transition to a safety and emissions inspection program that would require pleasure cars to be inspected once every two years beginning in January 2028. The section subdivision 1 is identical to what we reviewed yesterday. Same with Subdivisions 2 And 3. And I know there's a question from senator Harrison on the language in two, which we'll come back to in a second. I'll just wanna highlight what's new here. Section four, you asked for language yesterday requiring that the report propose a fee structure for inspections and address the potential for different fees charged in relation to an infection of different vehicle claims. And then five is also new. This would identify any anticipated impacts to state revenues during the transition to biennial inspections for pleasure cars and potential options for mitigating those impacts. So took language that was in the first draft and revised it a little bit. Six would include a proposal for amendments to the mileage based user fee related to annual reporting of miles traveled by battery electric vehicles during years when they are not required to be inspected. And then seven is language from yesterday. This is the outreach and education just renumbered. And then eight is also just renumbered from yesterday. And then the language in subsection b and c is identical to yesterday. So that's the new language. I know that there's at least a question about subdivision two. Go right into that.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Right.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Okay. I was looking at two Right. At the same time, so I

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: don't know if I is this page one?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: This is on page one subdivision a two, which provides that, the report identifies specific actions that are necessary to ensure that if possible, Vermont remains in compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act, including any necessary changes to the emissions inspection program and the state implementation plan. And my concern is the the phrase, if possible. So the the concern here is that, and I am not a Clean Air Act expert, or an expert on the state's implementation plan, and how the emissions inspection program fits into the requirements we have under the Clean Air Act. The concern is that with a two year inspection, you heard testimony a week or two ago from the Agency of Natural Resources expressing concerns that, there would they would need to make changes to the state implementation plan to remain in compliance, and they were unsure of what those changes would be or or whether they'd be able to remain in compliance. And so the if possible is put in there to reflect the possibility that it is possible that Vermont may not be able to remain in compliance, which is why we added sub or why I included subdivision three, which provides that if it appears that Vermont will not be able to remain in compliance.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Okay. Ask

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: you to point that

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Sure. I just do you wanna my, the reason I think that I don't like that it's possible is because the actions necessary to ensure could include things that are too expensive or things that we don't wanna do, but that would be our choice.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Yeah, Well, I and I'm in the sense. I think Yeah. Because other states have done this, it certainly must be possible. But but on the other side of this, we don't wanna do. I don't think any of us around the table wanna do anything that doesn't make us compliant with the EPA. So I'm I personally would say that we don't wanna do anything that it that doesn't make us compliant with the but give us a plan that how would you make us compliant? So I I don't wanna say impossible. I'd like to be definite. You need to give us a plan because if other states had done it, it's not it it must be possible. But I also wanna say, you know, for me, and and I think this goes around the tape, none of us want us out of compliance with the EPA.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Exactly. But

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Is that right? Yes. Thank you.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: But aren't we currently out of compliance? So I guess that's We

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: just don't have a

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: we don't have a screw.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: We are so the the state has submitted their so the the state implementation plan includes a number of different pieces, And the state has submitted those pieces, and we're awaiting approval on them, including the enhanced emissions inspection and maintenance program that we're required to have because we're near zone transport regions. Yeah. So

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: What if we do just would have been possible?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: So you strike if possible, And then I would recommend striking the first clause of the the next subdivision. So in three, beat everything up to the comma. So if it appears up to the comma, I would recommend striking that. And then perhaps say, I would say, yes, specifically identify any issues that could prevent Vermont from remaining in compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and potential options for addressing those issues. So I would reborn subdivision free.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Well, you know, for me, that doesn't

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: it could.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: It may be that it's just too expensive to do it. It may be that it it creates difficulty and you'll push it out further to do it. All of that kind of stuff.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Right. And this this is in addition to the identify specific actions that are necessary. So you may actually wanna say, like, in addition to the actions identified in subdivision 2 Yep. Identify any other issues that could prevent Vermont from remaining in compliance and potential options for addressing them. That's that's better to me. Okay.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: And those issues are different than the issues in number twos?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: So I think one of the one of the things that number two is asking for specific actions that are necessary to ensure that Vermont remains in compliance. One of the issues here is that we're asking ANR to identify these actions. ANR does not approve the, and they can't control EPA, although they can identify what they think is necessary. This would basically cover you know, we think this is what's necessary, but these are other potential issues. And so maybe phrase it as any other potential issues that could, And this would ensure that you have a full idea of the issues that are out there, and there's no concern that you were were not fully informed.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Okay. So just to double check. So does that mean issues other than the admissions inspection program? Is that the point of having the number three?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: I think the the point is to just ensure that there's nothing that's overlooked by two. So Okay. Yeah. So I would word three as in addition to any issues or actions identified pursuant to subdivision 2 of this subsection, identify any additional issues related to the change to biennial emissions inspections that could prevent Vermont from remaining in compliance. Other questions or changes?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: What's the will of the committee? Go ahead.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Well, since we didn't put it

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: in the DMV miscellaneous bill, I'm expecting it's probably also not amenable to the committee, but I did hope we would strengthen it, as you had alluded to some opportunity to do that last yesterday, Dan, around making it so they had to do something, not just report on how to do it, but that it would have an implementation date effectively at a certain point. So I would like to see that, but based on the lukewarm reception earlier, I'm not going to push it.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: So what we had discussed yesterday, just to remind the committee, was the potential option of including, some of the language from, the s two eleven as introduced, which would specifically be just with an effective date of 01/01/2028, the language shifting the requirement for pleasure cards to two year inspections. I think we would leave out the fees given that that was a clear issue identified. The the implications of doing that are that you would have to then take legislative action to undo it if the report comes back and you decide to reverse course because of what the report tells you. The other potential thing to note is that even with that, you may need additional amendments. So likely, the report is going to identify things like fee structure where even if you wanna, if you choose to implement the two year inspections, you would need to be adopting that fee structure anyway through legislation. So you'll have to reopen the section either way. Mhmm. So Yeah.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: My personal preference would be that we stay that we're going to do it. And based on information we get, if there are things that we need to change, that we do that later. Obviously, with a 2028 implementation date, that's a year plus from now for us to get updated information.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: That would be my preference if I was queen of the world.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: What do you think?

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: You well, the her.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Mhmm.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Are you asking us is the question right now to pass the bill as is or to add which the shall and they're stocking up.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: My request is we have heard yesterday from Damian that we could potentially change an ad from the original introduced s two eleven, the implementation requirement with a delayed implementation date of 2028. So we, in the way the bill is drafted now, we're asking them to create the plan, we're not saying do the plan, move forward with it. We're just asking. So we, next session, if we get the report, we're gonna have to do Yes. Oh, we are gonna have to actually do it. So I would feel more comfortable and confident going into town meeting saying we are actually doing it versus I'm just going to be reviewing a plan next year, actually to do it.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: And if the plan or the information comes back that we shouldn't do it, we have to undo the implementation. Yeah.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Totally. So that's the, I think, the risk. But it's not in the bill now. That's a difficult thing based off of the last strategy.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: I'd rather wait and see what it says then. If and also we would see what happens with the rule for the inspections and kinda have a better view of the whole ground before we say that we should implement it. And unless it's possible, I agree with that change. Like, we should get rid of the word if possible. Is there any changes in that? Go ahead. So just to finish up, I I don't I can't support this either way. I I'm I'm content with the with the effort that DMV is making to complete the manual. I wanna wait and see how that plays out. If it doesn't, maybe I'd entertain this at a later day. But today, I don't support the two year inspection.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Wendy? So so we're talking about whether or not we move forward on this? My concern with this

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Or or Okay. Move forward.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Okay. Move forward with the study. I'm okay for a study as long as you guys think you can do it. Mean, it's probably not that complicated.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Well, I want them to set out the road to get Yeah.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I mean, You know, it's not part of the problem in

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: my view with this whole discussion around inspections is it's never had laid out what are all the stumbling blocks to get there. And I think this lays out the two biggest stumbling blocks. And I wanna know what would it take for Vermont to go around those stumbling blocks. There's never been any place where we've said, here's what it would, you know, we've ahead with Aunt Hambah. We've had, we have the DPA requirements. We built systems on that. What would we do if we and I wanna know what we would do because I can't I, in my mind, can't figure out a path until I have that information. And none of the, nothing that we've done produces that information. Right, right.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I understand. Okay.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: So, you know, if I have a clear path and it looks like that, you know, I personally would like to go ahead with getting rid of inspections. But I can't do it if I can't figure out how to answer those questions because I don't wanna be out of compliance with the EPA.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Right, and actually it's the thing. When we were hearing about MFIP and how the other states have done it, there was a significant difference in the price and the cost to implement it and we aren't talking about that in this. Well, and the fees I think,

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: that's the attempt is to

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: So But it doesn't include the MBUF.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Well No. The next section.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Then I Yeah. And it says

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: It's whether any amendments that would be necessary to the MBUF. So the m b f implementation is the draft, while we were speaking, came back to me with edits and will be presented in the senate this afternoon, I think. The senate? Or the house. I'm sorry. And I will be sending a copy to all of you as well of what's posted for the house that you can see it. But that is anticipated to be included in the t bill because it's related to transportation funding. Okay. So that's separate and apart from inspections except for the proposal that the odometer reading is be taken when you get the vehicle inspected.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Right. And for me, that's a big deal, is the odometer readings being a much less expensive and better for the people because it's private.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Go ahead.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: I would just say we heard from every single state that came and presented to us about mBuff that they also use photography of the odometer by the individual user as a true up method. So it doesn't seem like we need to have every year inspections to satisfy that requirement. And I asked Patrick Murphy specifically if that was an option that the state could use and he said yes. So, I feel like we do have some coverage on this conversation. There is a direction to go forward based on what I've heard.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Yeah, I don't see taking a picture as as reliable as, an inspection. Okay. So

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I think

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Yeah. I'm like, I'm one

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: of the I I think I but I think, getting the information back to us was probably ago. When with the changes that we've made, when can we see changes here?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: I have drafted them. I'll send them for editing, and we can vote them before the end of the morning. If you wanna look at them Yes.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Right now. Look at them right now. Yep. And can you post online and retake a

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Yep. You can vote. So here. First to me, I need to just let me just save a new version so I don't accidentally overwrite the old version. Okay. So the changes that we've discussed this morning, first is in subdivision two, identify specific actions that are necessary to ensure that Vermont remains in compliance with the requirements Clean Air Act, if if possible, has been deleted. And bigger changes in three, in addition to any issues or actions identified pursuant to subdivision two of the subsection, identify any additional issues related to the change to biennial to biennial emissions inspections that could prevent, Vermont from remaining in compliance with the Clean Air Act? And I think it should be, related to a change by any all admissions inspections that could prevent Vermont from remaining in compliance with the requirements of Clean Air Act and potential options for addressing those issues. And those are the only two changes that have been made at this point to the draft.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: So this is draft This will be 3.1. 3.1. Does the committee want to look at the draft finalized before being, or could we have a motion to move draft 3.1? I'll move to pass. 3.1. Wait. Second. I think you're the clerk. Oh, yeah.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Thank you. Alright. So this is Senate Bill two eleven. Wait. Google.com. Two eleven, right? Okay. Two eleven and an act relating to mobile vehicle inspections. And we have a motion for 3.1?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Yes.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Yes. 3.1 by Senator Perchlik. So now I will call the roll. Senator Brennan? No. Senator Harrison? Yes. Senator Perchlik?

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Yes.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Senator White? Yes. Senator Westman? Yes. Okay, so the vote is four one zero. And who would like to be the reporter?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: The truth.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Oh, you know what? I think I like your impression.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: No way. Alright. Pat? No. I can't. No worries.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Well, thank you. I really appreciate us taking the time on this bill and reviewing it and spending as much. And I think with Oh, we haven't done the DMV bill, but my expectation when we've had the DMV bill, we'll have two really good complimentary ways to resolve what I think all of us have heard from constituents, no matter where we landed on a bill, is that something is broken and people want some relief. So I really appreciate work on this.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I wouldn't say resolve, but I would say definitely a path forward. Yeah. Good. And when do we think they will be back to I have 03/2640 now. So Wow. You have it completed? Yes.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Why would you like to get another piece of paper?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Oh, Oh, it's great. Thank you.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: You're And it's

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: fun to the test today. Yes. Yeah.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: You're not gonna

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Well, just Are we officially ready? I'm gonna use Well, let me walk you through Okay.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I'm just having it in front of us. Okay. Good.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Yep. So

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: let me walk you through your you have it posted?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: I will send it to you right now. You guys don't need to walk me. Ready? PDR?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: K.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: So moving to that 33? 41. Yeah. Yep. Alright.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: The point where we made some changes. Okay. So in the inspection manual amendment section, I've created a new subdivision two that says it is the intent of the general assembly that the amendments to the inspection manual adopted pursuant to this section shall ensure that the inspection manual only requires failure of an inspection when, as determined by the commissioner, the condition of a vehicle system or component constitutes an immediate safety risk. And two, a vehicle owner shall be advised of conditions to, of vehicle systems and components that do not constitute an immediate safety risk, but may become a safety risk at some time in the future. And then going on to page 36, in preparing the amendments to the inspection manual, the department shall specifically determine whether amendments to the provisions relating to the following vehicle systems and components are necessary to comply with the legislative intent set forth in subdivision two. And then it's the same list as before, just renumbered. That's why the letters are highlighted. Used to be Romanettes.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Oh.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: And then four, in preparing the amendments to the inspection manual, the department shall determine whether any tests or procedures require amendment or elimination, including the on highway road test for brakes and the headlamp aiming test. And in preparing the amendments, the department shall provide additional visual guidance regarding when certain conditions comes, warrant failure of an inspection. And so both the elimination of those two tests and the visual guidance was proposed by the department. The providing additional visual guidance, it doesn't limit them to specific sections. It allows them to determine where it's warranted. And then with the, elimination or amendment of procedures and tests, it specifically directs them to consider amending or eliminating those two tests. It does not require it. So if there is something that comes up in the, rule making process that makes them change their mind about the on highway road test or the headline banning test or some other test, they have the freedom to address that. Oh, and then the report. So it's a three part report. Commissioner shall submit to the house and senate committees on transportation the following reports regarding the rule amendments proposed pursuant to this section. Not more than five days after the department files proposed rule amendments to the rules with the secretary of state pursuant to three b s a eight thirty eight. So this is the initial rule filing. The commissioner shall submit a summary of the proposed amendments and an annotated copy of the inspection manual that shows those changes. The annotated copy is included with the rule amendments and the filing, so they just have to pull that out. And then the summary is likely to be a a short bullet point document. Not more than five days after the department files final proposed rule amendments with the secretary of state and legislative committee on administrative rules, the commissioner shall submit a summary of the proposed amendments and annotate a copy of the inspection manual and a copy of the responsiveness summary, if any, that is submitted with the final rules proposed rules pursuant to three VSA eight forty one b two. So this is when you are finalizing the proposed rules after you've taken public comment. If there is significant argument against the proposal or argument for changes, the department is already required to prepare a summary of why it chose to either make changes or not make changes in response to to those comments. And so this would, again, just be something they can pull out of the filing and include, but this will give you an overview of what what they considered if there were any strong arguments against. And then finally, not more than five days after the department files the adopted rule, the commissioner shall submit a brief written statement of the date on which the rule amendments were submitted, the effective date of the rule amendments, and any changes that were approved by LCAR. So there's three things here. The date you file so you know that the rules have actually been adopted. The date when they're gonna take effect since that can be anywhere from fifteen days after to some date far in the future. And then the final piece is oftentimes at LCAR, there are little tweaks that are made to the rules. It stays consistent with the substance, but sometimes they can be, you know, minor grammatical errors. Sometimes it's a more significant we found something that doesn't comply with legislative intent or your your authority under the law. And to that, I'll just let you know what the final version looks like. I've tried to keep this so that apart from the brief written summaries, it's just pulling pieces of the rule filing that would be helpful to hopefully minimize the administrative burden on their end and make it possible to do within the five days.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I would say to the ears from from DMV that are here, and I so because I don't see the commissioner up there that if you're going to the third party contractor now and if you're, well along your way and completed before the end of the session, we may have you in to talk about what your volumes have proposed before we get out of here. And if there is anything that any of the members of this committee wanna talk about and we're out of session before they file, I will ask President Pro Tem's office if we could do a Zoom meeting together to run through it.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Oh, okay. But we'll get the reports still too.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Yeah, we'll get the work you'll get all of this, but yeah, I you you know? Pretty nice to hear. Myself, when I get these reports and all of that, sometimes I have questions before I can understand that.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I agree.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: That's It's also worth noting that the department currently has authority to amend the inspection manual. So it dot proposing permanent rule amendments is something they can do at any time even before this takes effect.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: But it's not they don't have expedited rule.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: The emergency rulemaking amendments would have to wait until after this takes effect. But as long as those are filed before August 1, they could simply refile the proposed amendments with, the emergency filing paperwork, at that time. There's enough interest in this legislation in the overall about

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: inspections that I want people conscious. Right?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: The final piece that is different in this draft is the motorcycle exhaust requirements. And so this is the language that senator Perchlik proposed, which you passed last year in a 66. No. Yeah. Is it 66? Yeah. We can. Okay. An individual shall not operate a motorcycle that's not labeled in compliance and equipped with a muffler that meets the requirements of the federal standards. The prohibition shall not apply to motorcycles operate or race contest or demonstration of speed or skill. And then, a motorcycle that does not meet the requirements of subdivision one shall not pass an inspection under section 12.2 of this title. And then the only other thing we have to is renumber the effective date section. And if you are okay with those changes, I'll send a clean copy to Megan, and you can vote.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Which draft is this?

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: This is draft 4.1.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Are we ready for

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I believe we are ready, but I just wanted to say for the record that senate institutions reviewed the areas. Thank you for that. And we approved them with straw. Thank you.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Do I have a motion?

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Motion to approve.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Okay. So this is

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: 4.1. 4.1.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: That's three twenty six version 4.1, an act relating to motor vehicle inspections. So I was called the roll.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Yes. No. Yeah.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Oh, I picked you know what? I'm sorry. Don't. You don't have the. I I switched them.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Oh.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I apologize. Thank you for noticing. So it's an act relating to miscellaneous amendments to laws relating to motor motor vehicles. Yes. I see. Okay. So and it is

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: You almost have to around the

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: I know. I was like, wait. I'm Grade 26.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: And it's favorable with amendment, I believe, is the category. Do we vote on the other wow. Well, that's our the type of vote. It's favorable with amends.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Yeah.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Because we we fight. It's strangle. Well, it's still favorable. Really good in that.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Okay.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I will call the roll now, right? Okay. Senator Brennan.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Yes.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Senator Harrison? Yes. Senator Perchlik? Yes. Senator White? Yes. Senator Westman? Yes. And so the tally is 500. And who will be the reporter?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Well, you put me as the reporter, but what I will do before the end of today is talk to each about whether you wanna do sections or not. And you had said that you I still might give you your curves in that.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Okay. I'm happy. I mean, I'm happy to do the weighted truck piece, but that would be the one that I feel least qualified and most likely to get haste about on the floor. So I just Let me let me

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: take a take a look at it,

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: but I'm going I'll do flotation devices for sure. You know, like, whatever the order makes sense.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Let me let me go through. You do have your bill. Yeah. And, like, let me go through this and but I do plan on bringing it up on my end. Okay. I'll have something before the end of the day Okay. For you each on that. And Damian will be doing a summary. Oh, right. Terrific. So it shouldn't be all that complicated.

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Yeah. What I'll do is I'll take the chart that we've had before, and I'll turn that into a section by section summary. It 'll have a little bit more detail on each section, and we'll not have the comments agreed to and so

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: forth along the side. This will get us and the week we come back, which will be crossover, and we probably won't have the fever for at least two weeks then. The week we come back, it's my hope that we can dive right into figuring out where we wanna be with vehicle vehicle miles traveled and going forward. You know, we've spent a lot more time on it than others, and I think that laying out some path to go beyond just electric vehicles is something that I think I think believe there's an support for that within this committee.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Would that be a separate bill?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: No, that will be in the T Bill. In the T Bill. Yeah, it's gonna be right in the T Bill because I think for any of us, vehicle miles traveled is gonna have to be the long range future. Makes sense. You know, we have, I've said this to you before, I think we have a short term problem, we have a long term problem, and then we have some issues that are quite thorny, particularly around how do we make sure towns get taken care of. And those are, for me, the big pieces. I'm sure we'll have amendments like fines for tinted windows. And for today, we'll go ahead.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Well, I just wanna ask this one lingering piece around your proposal with the Stow one to 2% conversation. My understanding is we're not going to be including that obviously in the DMV bill. No. So and since it's not passing before town meeting day, unless unless that's the plan for this week. I'm just wondering where that is and kind

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I was thinking that when we started talking about the Hyatt Town Highway Aid programs in the T Bill that that's where we would suggest the money would go. So we tuck it right in there.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Okay. So it's a T bill. Right.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: But Okay. Yeah. If

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Yeah. I I just didn't know.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I think at this point, Damian, you, and Megan need to get

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: I've sent her clean copies of both.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Yep. Yeah. That's good. And the two of us need to get the information to take to the clerk's office. Thank you.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Do you mind if I just talk about this real council?

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Oh, no. Go ahead. I'm I'm sorry.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: No. No. It's okay. And so the Rail Council only meets four times a year. So there's only one probably that we'll have during the session. And I just if you have any suggestions, let me know. We have a rail plan. We don't typically have enough funding to implement the rail plan. I'm going to be advocating monthly. The rail plan will come to us in the second part of the session.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Yeah, but they're gonna be here too, right? Yes, yes. We should make sure they're on the agenda.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: The real

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Yeah. Well, they themselves and just say and talk about the plan.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Oh definitely. And we have to, leave their budget So just a couple of things that I'm going to work on are signs on the interstate that have a sign where there's an exit where there's a train station. Many other states do that. Massachusetts does it and it's just, it'll be an easy way to show both visitors and residents that we have train service.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: Oh, we have.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: It's pretty lodgeful.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Yeah,

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: We we have some signs off our

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: 89. Well, off of 89, but we want them on 89 and on 91.

[Sen. Rebecca "Becca" White (Vice Chair)]: Oh, I guess what I'm saying is we do my understanding is there is one for our station. So

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Oh, I haven't I haven't seen it, but I'll I'll look for it. Yeah, there's smaller signs once you get off the highway. But we need signs on the highway so that people can see them and say, Oh gee, I could come here by train.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: That's right.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: And this is pretty good in our head. And So, that's pretty effective. So, might get there. And then a pilot to provide transportation between either a bus or some other entity when someone gets to the tramp and that's in the rail plan now. So I'm gonna work on that. And we're also gonna do more field trips and you all would all be invited so that we can go see both freight and passenger rail.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: She liked to ride trains. Yep.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: Well

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: The senator from Washington across the hall Yeah. Would Oh, yeah. Choo choo. Like to bring her son.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Totally. Yeah. All kids are welcome.

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: You get points. He's still excited about last year's train, and I got to lift him up into the engine. And he got his picture's in that calendar. So Oh, wow.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: So

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Alright. So maybe what the rest of

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: them will get

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: out now.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: But I think of

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: the

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: train that he's in.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: Oh, exactly. Well, she I thought she said there was a he was in the

[Damian Leonard (Legislative Counsel)]: Well, you know, it's

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: but he she told him that even then. So that he sees the picture because I'm in that train. I think it's Well,

[Sen. Richard Westman (Chair)]: I didn't get a calendar because my my calendar that was given The chair doesn't get a calendar. One of those one of the representatives of took my account. I'll tell you mine first.

[Sen. Andrew Perchlik (Member)]: That's alright. It's for you reason.

[Sen. Wendy Harrison (Clerk)]: I