--- title: Senate Transportation Committee, March 25, 2026 collection: meetings id: 2026-03-25/senate-transportation cite_as: Senate Transportation Committee, March 25, 2026, video https://vimeo.com/1176709338 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1176709338 date: 2026-03-25 status: machine transcript corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-appropriations.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/house-rules.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: Senate body: Senate Transportation Committee body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/senate-transportation.md meeting_kind: committee session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-03-25T08:00:00-04:00 location: 450 CAP duration_seconds: 5695.0 video_id: 1176709338 video_title: 03/25/2026 Senate Committee on Transportation agenda_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/senate/TransportationAgenda3.25.26.pdf bills_discussed: - HR 1300 - HB 1277 - HB 297 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 561 transcript_chars: 88171 parts: - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation.md?start=0 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation.md?start=59764 --- # Senate Transportation Committee, March 25, 2026 Senate Transportation Committee; March 25, 2026; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1176709338. Agenda: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/senate/TransportationAgenda3.25.26.pdf. > This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. ## Summary written by Georgia Commons Written by gpt-6.1-sol from the transcript below. It is not part of the record. Quote the transcript or the video, not the summary. The committee approved three measures with changes. It removed a duplicate road dedication from [HR 1300](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1300) and approved the amended resolution. It unanimously approved [HB 1277](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1277), which the sponsor described as updating transportation cost thresholds and reporting, after adding a delay for electric-vehicle charging requirements. The longest discussion concerned a substitute for [HB 297](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb297) to reorganize state transit agencies. Members questioned local representation, the governor’s influence, transportation oversight and the proposal’s review late in the session. A MARTA witness requested transparency about federal transit funds. The committee changed the proposed board’s membership and unanimously approved the substitute as amended. ## Bills discussed (3) Each account was written by gpt-6.1-sol from the stretch of the transcript it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda. ### HR 1300. Representative Penny Houston Roundabout; Cook County; dedicate [HR 1300](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1300) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:32:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1960s), turns 3 to 43. The chair presented the road-naming resolution and said it included a duplicate dedication already passed in the Senate’s version. The chair proposed removing Part 14 and related references, with corresponding numbering and punctuation corrections. The committee approved that amendment and then approved the resolution as amended by voice vote, with no vote count stated. The chair said additional road-naming proposals were being prepared for later addition. ### HB 1277. Conservation and natural resources; increase project cost threshold for public roads or airports requiring environmental evaluations [HB 1277](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1277) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:36:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2164s), turns 43 to 148. The sponsor said the bill would raise the environmental-review threshold for road and airport projects from $100 million to $200 million while retaining historic and cultural protections. The sponsor also described raising the threshold for negotiated sales of surplus GDOT property from $75,000 to $150,000, allowing future inflation adjustments and consolidating reporting into one annual fiscal report. Asked when the property threshold last changed, a department representative said 2015. The representative said negotiated sales generally concern leftover parcels whose only likely buyer is an adjacent owner, avoiding marketing costs. A committee member offered an amendment delaying electric-vehicle charging requirements because equipment needed to measure charging output was not available. The member explained that the Department of Agriculture would inspect chargers to ensure customers receive what they pay for. Although initially described as a two-year extension, discussion established that the amendment moved the deadline from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028, a one-year extension. The member accepted that date and said additional equipment and possibly more funding were needed. The committee unanimously approved both the amendment and the bill as amended. ### HB 297. Ad valorem tax; define multipurpose off-highway vehicle; provisions [HB 297](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb297) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:44:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2695s), turns 150 to 546. The House sponsor supported replacing the original tax proposal with a transit-agency restructuring substitute. The Senate presenter said it would dissolve GRTA, rename the ATL the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority, remove overlapping functions and powers to compel local action, and let counties outside metro Atlanta opt in for federal transit funding. The presenter said existing express buses would continue, expansion would require voter approval, and annual performance reporting would be required. Members questioned whether a seven-member board could be controlled by appointees outside the affected counties, whether the governor would have too much influence, and whether the lengthy substitute had received enough review. The presenter said agency representatives had provided input but acknowledged no full review with GDOT. The presenter said MARTA’s powers and SRTA’s borrowing arrangements would remain unchanged. A MARTA witness, who had not reviewed the substitute, requested transparent allocation of federal funds and regional representation. The witness estimated combined administrative and low-income set-asides at $4.234 million from $31 million in 2025; the presenter estimated administrative fees alone below $2 million. The committee adopted a nine-member board amendment: four governor appointments, two each for the lieutenant governor and speaker, and the GDOT commissioner, with at least five appointees residing in affected counties. It then unanimously approved the substitute as amended. > The transcript runs 88,171 characters. A reader that cannot take it at once can read it in 2 parts: part 1 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation.md?start=0; part 2 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-25/senate-transportation.md?start=59764. ## Transcript (561 turns) [0:19:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1165s) spread all over this building getting work done. So I ran up from Appropriations just to let you all know we're probably, I don't know, three-quarters of the way done down there. So hopefully within the next five to 10 minutes we can get started. Think that's cool. Um, and we'll have a quorum. [0:32:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1952s) Uh, from the agenda. [0:32:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1956s) I'm gonna go ahead and present [0:32:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1960s) House Resolution 1300, which is the House's road naming bill. We put a Senate, uh, piece on here. We actually... Now, he would tell you he deserves two road namings, but Brandon Beach- [0:32:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1974s) Yeah. [0:32:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=1975s) ... um, was actually on the Senate version that we passed over, and was, he was inadvertently added to the House section here as well. So after I take a motion on this bill, I'm going to move that we strike s- Part 14, that we strike lines 306 to 308, and that we strike, "And United States Treasurer Brandon L. Beach," on line 315 and 16. And we make any renumberings, uh, and punctuation changes as needed to accomplish that. [0:33:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2005s) Jenny, you comfortable with that as a- [0:33:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2007s) Yeah [0:33:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2007s) ... verbal? Um, I'll take a motion on, um- [0:33:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2011s) Pass LC39511A S. [0:33:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2014s) Great. I got a motion and from Senator Ginn. [0:33:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2017s) Second. [0:33:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2017s) A second from Senator Mallow. And then I will take a motion to strike [0:33:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2025s) part 14 that mentions, uh, St- US Treasurer Brandon L. Beach, lines 306 to 308, and then lines 315 and 316, the mention of United States Treasurer Brandon L. Beach, recognizing that this was in the Senate version as a fl- a floor amendment we were already, already able to pass over. [0:34:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2043s) Move to amend LC39511A S, striking sections 14, and striking lines... [0:34:19](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2059s) What are those last guys you're striking? [0:34:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2061s) 306, 308. [0:34:22](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2062s) 306, 308, and renumbering accordingly, and fixing any scrivener's errors. [0:34:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2065s) And striking three, on lines 315 and 316, "And United States Treasurer Brandon L. Beach." [0:34:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2071s) 316. [0:34:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2071s) All right, we got a motion to amend. Do we have a second? [0:34:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2074s) Second. [0:34:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2075s) All right. In, in the form of discussion, um, Senator Gooch, when he looks in the mirror- [0:34:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2081s) Who? [0:34:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2081s) ... what does he see? [0:34:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2082s) It's too early. [0:34:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2084s) Do you- [0:34:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2084s) I second. [0:34:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2085s) Senator Burns, do you know what he sees when he looks in the mirror? [0:34:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2087s) I do- [0:34:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2087s) I know what he sees [0:34:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2088s) ... but I'd, I would, I'd prefer not to quote it, Mr. Chairman. [0:34:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2090s) Fair enough. We got a motion and a second on the amendment. Uh, all those in favor say, "Aye." [0:34:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2094s) Aye. [0:34:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2094s) All those opposed like so. Motion carries. We're now on to a motion due pass as amended on LC39511A S. [0:35:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2102s) So moved. [0:35:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2102s) We got a motion, Senator Ginn. We got a second from someone. [0:35:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2108s) I'll second. [0:35:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2108s) Senator Gooch. All those in, uh, in favor of the motion, please signify by saying, "Aye." [0:35:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2113s) Aye. [0:35:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2114s) All those opposed like so. All right. And I will carry this on the Senate floor, and we'll have... Senator McNeel, you've got what's gonna be a late-arriving road naming. Um, appropriately, and really just kind of in, in keeping with the spirit of your tenure so far, you will be adding that to a House bill- ... and not to the Senate bill. So you'll continue your work, uh, on House bills. And I believe there's one more senator that we're, we're working on a naming, um, road name for. Is that, who is that, Justin? [0:35:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2145s) It's, uh- [0:35:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2145s) Senator McNeel and Senator Davenport. [0:35:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2147s) Senator Davenport. So let's get word to Senator Davenport to get us the information she needs so we can get that done, get it back over to the House for an agree. Uh, we will move on to, what are we gonna do next here? Let's do House Bill 1277. A little, uh, little department bill here. [0:36:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2172s) Representative Barton, you got your wing man there. [0:36:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2175s) I do. [0:36:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2175s) I'll turn the mic on for both of y'all. Why don't y'all go ahead and present this bill? And I believe we're gonna have one amendment, and then we're gonna plan to get this bill on the floor Friday to get it over to y'all in the House with enough time for hopefully an agree- [0:36:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2189s) All right [0:36:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2189s) ... um, with the, a simple amendment. [0:36:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2191s) All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee. This is a, uh, department, uh, bill. As you said, it ups, it upstate, it updates the, uh, outdated dollar thresholds. It streamlines reporting requirements and provides GDOT reasonable flexibility in how projects are delivered. The bill raises the environmental review trigger, uh, for road and airport projects, um, from $100 million to $200 million, reflecting the current cost of construction while keeping the historic and cultural protections in place. It also updates the threshold for negotiated sale of surplus, uh, GDOT property from 75,000 to 150,000 and allows, uh, CPI adjustments going forward so we don't have to do this again. [0:37:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2233s) And, uh, it finally consolidates transport, uh, transportation reporting into a single annual fiscal report instead of the redundancy that it has. So this bill's about efficiency and updating the cost of inflation. It's pretty s- meat and potatoes of the version of the bill. [0:37:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2249s) Uh, Mr. Ward, y'all have any towing or booting things on here this year that- [0:37:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2252s) No [0:37:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2252s) ... might draw the ire of the committee? [0:37:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2255s) And no- [0:37:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2255s) And no drones. [0:37:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2256s) No drones. [0:37:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2256s) No drones in this bill. [0:37:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2258s) No drones. Fair enough. Yeah, I'm gonna recognize Senator Ginn for a question. [0:37:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2265s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the surplus property sales, the, uh, uh, you're going from 75 to 150. When was the last time that was updated? [0:37:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2274s) 2015. [0:37:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2275s) Okay. Just wondered what half your money goes to. [0:38:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2282s) Yeah. [0:38:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2282s) Oh- [0:38:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2283s) You think that's going from 75 to 150? [0:38:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2286s) Well, so it's just keeping it- [0:38:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2288s) I get it [0:38:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2288s) ... on pace with where it was. [0:38:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2289s) I get it. [0:38:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2290s) Uh, and, and so just- [0:38:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2291s) Your real estate value. [0:38:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2292s) Well, some context- [0:38:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2293s) Yeah [0:38:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2293s) ... some context for that is if property of about that value is what we call an uneconom- typically the uneconomic remnants, where the only likely purchaser of the property is an adjacent property owner because that property probably has no additional access, no other value that would make it, you know, value of competitively pricing it. So we save on the cost of trying to market it as well as everything that goes into to putting it out there for, for multi-party because you're probably, your only buyer is going to be your, an adjacent property owner. [0:38:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2321s) And they don't need anymore and not have to maintain it. [0:38:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2323s) Put 'em back on the tax digest and get it back into good use. [0:38:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2330s) Any other questions on the bill? [0:38:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2332s) So moved. [0:38:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2332s) We are going to have an amendment from Senator Gooch, but I will recognize Senator Ginn for a motion. [0:38:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2338s) Move to pass HB 1277, the, uh, LC474068S. [0:39:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2346s) Second. [0:39:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2347s) We have a motion from Senator Ginn, second from Senator Dixon. I'm gonna recognize Senator Gooch for an amendment. [0:39:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2353s) Sure. You should see an amendment on, uh, in your packet. It's AM39-0525. And all this is is a, an extension of the two-year, uh, window that we gave the Department of Agriculture to get ready for the electric chargers that were being deployed around the state. They would have to set up equipment to calibrate and measure the output at all those public charging stations to make sure that the consumer was actually getting what they were paying for. The equipment has not been very forthcoming. [0:39:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2386s) The technology is being developed, and the department is ready to move forward when that equipment arrives but we do not have it. So we're just simply asking for a two-year extension on that deadline that we put in code two years ago. [0:40:05](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2405s) DC ant eater? [0:40:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2407s) Uh, it's a little more complicated than that. You can use one of those. [0:40:22](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2422s) All right. Sorry about that. So, um, Senator Gooch, what's the current implementation date? [0:40:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2426s) Current im- implementation date was for this year. [0:40:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2429s) Okay. So January 1st, '26. [0:40:30](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2430s) Yes. [0:40:30](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2430s) We're obviously not able to comply with that. [0:40:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2432s) There's just no feasible way. [0:40:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2432s) '27. [0:40:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2433s) 27. [0:40:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2434s) So- [0:40:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2434s) So there's no way to, to- [0:40:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2436s) '27. [0:40:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2436s) It was January 1st '27. [0:40:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2438s) Yeah, that's- [0:40:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2439s) End of this year. [0:40:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2439s) A register. Yeah, yeah. [0:40:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2440s) One day after this year. [0:40:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2441s) Right. No. [0:40:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2442s) So this- [0:40:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2442s) Yeah [0:40:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2443s) ... the language on line 26 pushes it to '28. [0:40:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2446s) 28. Yes. [0:40:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2447s) You wanted to do it for one year or two years? [0:40:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2448s) We wanted to do it for two years. Um- [0:40:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2450s) So we may need to look at just- [0:40:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2451s) It is two years. [0:40:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2454s) We may have put the wrong version in here. So if you wanted to go two years, I believe you need to push that down to 29. [0:40:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2458s) Does it not say '28? [0:40:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2459s) On line 20 s- it says '28 on line 26. [0:41:05](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2465s) Right. [0:41:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2466s) Did you want it to be '28 or '29? [0:41:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2467s) Yes. I, I would say let's go with this. [0:41:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2469s) '28? [0:41:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2470s) Yes. [0:41:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2470s) Okay. [0:41:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2471s) If it pleases the committee. [0:41:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2472s) Okay. Which would be a one-year extension. [0:41:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2475s) Yeah. There, there may be some more appropriations required for the implementation. Some of the monies have been appropriated already. Some of the money's been spent. The pickup truck's been purchased. But there's other equipment that has to be acquired, so. [0:41:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2488s) And this is for, just remind the committee of essentially what this is, your, there was a bill that passed a few years ago to have Department of Ag kind of regulate and inspect- [0:41:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2496s) Sure [0:41:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2496s) ... EV chargers similar to how they do gas, gas- [0:41:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2499s) That's right [0:41:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2499s) ... currently. [0:41:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2500s) So give some of the new guys on the committee background. Uh, we currently charge EVs a flat fee per year. If, if you have a, a Tesla or electric Porsche, whatever your electric car is, you charge it at home, you pay 250? [0:41:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2517s) Around 200. Yeah, I think it was 242 or something. [0:41:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2519s) 200, $250 a year for that car. However, with the deployment of a lot of, a lot of the commercial electric vehicles like Rivian, they're building a truck, a service delivery vehicle for like Amazon, UPS, FedEx. Those trucks could spend as much as 50, 60,000 miles a year on our public roads. $200 is not gonna cover the wear and tear on our vehicles. Uh, and so- [0:42:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2544s) On the roads. On the roads. [0:42:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2545s) Correct. On the roads. Thank you, Frank. And so the idea was to charge a flat fee, uh, per kilowatt at these public charging stations and at these commercial charging depots like the, the Amazons and the FedExs and UPSs and so forth and so on. So the fee was appropriated, um, and it was, it was put into code. The problem has arisen that, you know, just like the Department of Ag today has to go out and calibrate gas pumps to make sure when you buy a gallon of gasoline or a gallon of diesel, you're actually getting a gallon of gasoline or diesel. [0:42:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2579s) No one has come up with a scenario yet to measure the output of these charging stations. So the Department of Ag has been working with Georgia Tech and other professionals in the industry to come up with that technology. Other states are doing the same thing, and so we're just a little ahead of the curve in having that technology available. So we hope this year and next year the technology will be available. We'll be able to deploy that. And the Department of Agriculture will be responsible for measuring those outputs. [0:43:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2607s) So this keeps the current law in place and just changes the date. [0:43:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2609s) That's, that's all it does. [0:43:30](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2610s) All right. We have a, we have a motion to amend. Do we have a second? [0:43:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2614s) Second. [0:43:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2615s) A second from Senator Mallow. All those in favor of the amendment, which is amendment 390525, please signify by saying aye. [0:43:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2625s) Aye. [0:43:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2625s) Aye. [0:43:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2626s) Aye. [0:43:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2626s) All those opposed like sign. That motion carries unanimously. We are now onto the underlying bill, LC474068S as amended. Any discussion? All those in favor please signify by saying aye. [0:44:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2641s) Aye. [0:44:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2641s) Aye. [0:44:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2642s) Aye. [0:44:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2642s) All those opposed like sign. The motion carries unanimously, and we will work to get this on the floor Friday. If we, let me try to think if we can even do that. We gotta read it out. Reads today. We may not be able to. Yeah, we may go, it may need to be next week. We'll get it, we'll get it done for you. I think you can do it. All right. Thanks for giving us session once. Yeah. Yeah, that's, that'd be- Um- If we read it out this morning, it'll be, it'll be- Yeah. Yeah, that's right. We, we will, we'll read it today, so it should be Friday. Who's gonna be your Senate sponsor on this? Between two... I don't have one, so it's- All right ... y'all's choice. Um, I'd be happy to carry it for you if you'd like. [0:44:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2674s) Or Senator Gooch, you're more than welcome to as well. Your, your choice, whatever you want to do. You know what? Why don't you take it since you got the, your language on here. You've done a lot of work on the electric charge and stuff. Sure. All right. We'll have Senator Gooch carry that. Thank you, guys. [0:44:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2688s) Thank you, Chair. [0:44:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2688s) Thank you. All right. We are now on to [0:44:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2695s) House Bill 297. [0:44:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2699s) I think it's a little heavier than it was in its original version. This is, uh, gonna be a substitute we're working off of. Senator Anderson and, uh, s- sorry, Representative Anderson. Yeah, Senator Anavitarte, why don't you join him? I know you've done a lot of work on this as well. [0:45:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2716s) We've had an, an initial hearing, I think, on the overall, I think I know, on the overall framework of, of a version of this, which is a consolidation of some of our agencies. And I know there's been some work that's been done since the committee, um, discussed this last time. And, and Leader Anavitarte, you were the one that presented this last time, and now I, I know Representative Anderson's done some work on this as well, and is, is familiar with this. [0:45:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2741s) Yeah. Mr. Chairman, if I could start, uh, you know, most of us are pa- parents, and sometimes you really, uh, enjoy watching your children grow up to be much more than you expected and they should've been. So, uh, House Bill 297 started out as a, a relatively small innocuous, uh, ad valorem tax exemption bill that was not necessary due to the, uh, Department of Revenue, uh, rules. And so, uh, uh, two years ago, I carried, uh, House Bill 1358, which, uh, uh, identified a lot of the, uh, issues that are identified in the substitute that this committee is bringing forth. [0:46:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2776s) And so I'm fully in support of this, and, uh, appreciate, uh, uh, the Leader Anavitarte in, uh, helping me or, or presenting this option, and I'm v- in full support. [0:46:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2789s) All right. Why don't you walk us through the bill? You're working off of LC395117S. Is that- [0:46:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2796s) Yeah, that's correct. [0:46:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2797s) Okay. [0:46:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2797s) Um, I'm gonna go over the highlights. I do, I do want to just remind the committee of kind of why we're here today, and then, um, we'll take questions. I don't think this will take too long. Um, so basically this bill is restructuring, you know, what is transportation governance, um, in Georgia as it relates, uh, to transit. And so, you know, some of the redundancies and, you know, what I would describe as overreach, um, that has been going on is, you know, related to a few different things. [0:47:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2830s) So two, um, having two identical transportation agencies, GRTA and the ATL with sweeping powers. Some of the sweeping powers, and some of y'all I know are familiar, um, some of y'all may not be familiar for our newer members. Um, things like, for example, overriding w- local land use and zoning, withholding state funding from local governments for non-compliance with authorities, um, related to transit and transportation plans, um, causation of local governments to enact or increase taxes to pay for authorities trans- transit transportation plans. [0:47:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2867s) One of the bigger ones that, um, you know, we're very grateful for, um, the leaders in this state who have not enacted the powers that allow GRTA to, um, use eminent domain on local governments and property owners. Um, I think that's one of the, I'll call it almost hidden powers that really, you know, has been kind of tucked away in a cave that, um, I think ultimately needs to go away. Um, can force actions by DOT and DNR, um, issue up to $2 billion of state-backed bonds. [0:48:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2901s) Um, other redundancies, transit planning can occur at three agencies plus ARC. None is required to be fiscally balanced, which I think is, is important to some of you all. Multiple entities that can administer federal transit funds in Metro Atlanta. Some of the other efficiencies, um, the election of a 10-member ATL board, um, board meetings, you know, 10-plus in-person meetings a year, statutory requirements to submit a list of transit projects for GO bonds every year, um, the statutory requirement for regional ATL branding all the buses and all the trains, uh, statutory requirements for transit, uh, trip planning, mobile phone app creation, and maintenance of that. [0:49:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2947s) And then I think some of the gaps that, I mean, we've identified as we've gone through this process, um, before the last meeting where we talked about this and since then, Mr. Chairman, is, you know, no ability for non-metro counties to take advantage, um, you know, for operating transit with federal funds. I think this entire structure that was created almost 10 years ago is kind of focused on Metro Atlanta, and we know there's, you know, some s- very specific communities outside of Atlanta and other counties that would like autonomy, and the drawdown of those funds and how they're kind of, uh, distributed, you know, across the state. [0:49:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=2983s) We've heard from leaders in other parts of the communi- uh, parts of the state around that. And then I think the other part too is no representation by the Senate and House, um, on the state board that reviews ARC's transportation, TIP spending plans, private-public collaboration or transportation aspects, um, related to major developments or, or as some of y'all are familiar with, DRIs, um, when projects take place. So what this bill is gonna do, this is a, a different bill than what I presented to you at the last meeting, um, we've consulted with members and leaders and local folks all across the state, is to do several different things. [0:50:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3024s) The bill will consolidate the ATL and GRTA, streamlining over 70 code sections. It will rename the ATL to become the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority. It will cut the size of statutory transportation boards from 31 members down to seven, so that's 77% of the board members will be reduced. The appointments, um, that will be new or added is that the governor will have five, the lieutenant governor will have one, the speaker will have one. [0:50:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3059s) It eliminates the, the just laborous ATL board elections process that's, that's happened all over Metro Atlanta, um, which I know in some communities is, is controversial, unnecessary, not ri- really adding anything to the community. Um, it eliminates in-person meeting requirements so that there's some semblance of, of virtual meetings, um, can be allowed. Um, next, it will ensure that the state cannot impose on counties its transportation planning mandates or transit services. [0:51:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3095s) I know this is one of the, the big issues with counties in Metro Atlanta and across the state is local communities want some sort of semblance of autonomy. They want their citizens to decide do they want transit, do they not want transit, um, letting the people have a say, especially in Metro Atlanta. Um, and, you know, what does that look like? And under the powers, these hidden powers I'll call them, that GRTA has had, uh, going back to the, you know, the late 1990s, um, and then some of them still inherited by the ATL, um, it takes away, um, the threat of the eminent domain, the threat of forcing local governments to have to pay transit taxes or other things while, you know, we're in this environment right now, and I don't think it's gonna change, where people are sick and tired of property taxes. [0:52:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3147s) They're sick and tired of taxes in general. They're asking what are they getting for their mon- their government money in terms of investment back into the community. Um, so this puts more power in the hands of the people and less power in the hands of the, the state politicians. It eliminates the redundancy in air quality regulations th- that devolves back to EB- EPD and ARC mandates. If you remember, um, for those that follow Georgia history, when GRTA was, um, founded back in the '90s, um, GRTA's founding really revolved around air quality regulations. [0:53:05](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3185s) Many people may not remember that and know that, and then it evolved into something else and something else and something else as, you know, we got new governors, um, over time. And so obviously we believe, um, you know, kind of that mindset from the '90s and looking at 2026 and where we're at from a transportation investment and community and government standpoint, um, is completely outdated and uns- unnecessary. Um, the bill would achieve a limitation. [0:53:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3215s) It broadens the potential geographic jurisdiction so that, as I mentioned before, a county in other parts of the state may opt into, uh, Georgia T or TE with the use of federal funds. Um, you know, think about TE going forward as kind of the holder of those f- federal funds and how they do a plan to transit, I mean, Georgia T, GT, whatever you wanna call it, um, you know, will still operate, for example, express buses, which is basically people who are riding buses to go to school and go to work. [0:54:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3253s) That's the primary function of these express buses, as many of you know. Um, a tr- a transparent, it perver- uh, uh, preserves important state agency functions such as the following: a transparent review of ARC's transportation spending by a board appointed by state elected officials upon the governor's delegation, public-private collaboration on transportation aspects of major developments GDOT, um, has as the state's engineering experts, and the provision around DCA, um, around, as I mentioned before, developments of regional impacts. [0:54:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3291s) As those are now and as you know them in your local community, whether you're in Gwinnett County or Paulding County or Cobb County or Bartow County or Coweta County or Cherokee County, stays the same. So we've not messed with or made changes or created confusion for county commissioners, um, or local governments in how those projects happen. And even, even as I've gone through this, um, provisions of the law with our team and experts, I mean, we learned of two projects just in Paulding County w- we weren't aware of that are going through this pro- this process. [0:55:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3325s) So those kind of projects, when you talk about DRIs related to, you know, excel, decel lanes with major projects, none, none of those things, um, will change. Um, the state agency will remain as a designated recipient of the Atlanta region state and federal transit funds. Um, transit funds, uh, trust funds previously entered into agreements will continue, uh, and to be transferred, um, over to GDOT. So GDOT, um, will manage those. [0:55:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3355s) And then the efficient operations of the express, uh, buses in currently served counties, um, will continue only. Expansion will require approval of the voters. New requirement that performance metrics must be annually reported. That includes safety, security, customer satisfaction, effectiveness, efficiency on the state agency's transit operations, um, and administration. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I'll kick it back to you for questions. [0:56:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3387s) I'm gonna recognize, uh, Senator Mallow first for a question on nine. [0:56:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3391s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, to the majority, just a quick question. Looking at the composition of the board members drastically reducing, consolidating into one, my only question would be, uh, five individuals appointed by the governor, three of whom shall reside in a county within a compliance zone county. My only question would be if it was to make sure that local folks were in control, I don't know who the governor would be in 2027. But the possibility of three people, um, being appointed, leaving two behind, another from the president of the Senate and another from the speaker- [0:57:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3423s) Excuse me [0:57:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3423s) ... could possibly be four people, which would be a majority on the board, that may not live in this affected area. And I just would have concerns if, for example, someone from Savannah was on this board- [0:57:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3433s) Mm-hmm [0:57:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3433s) ... making decisions for counties in which they don't even live or serve in. Just- [0:57:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3437s) Yeah. So just to be clear, I mean, this, this is gonna impact primarily, um, 13 counties. So for, like, example for Chatham County, I know y'all have operators and, you know, I know I'm sure y'all have conversations about what is the future of transit. I know you have a lot of economic development projects. [0:57:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3456s) Mm-hmm. [0:57:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3456s) And so when we talk about, you know, uh, you know, countywide public referendums in Chatham County, you're not in those 13 counties. So if you make a decision with your board of commissioners in Chatham County that you need to pursue X project related to something that you're doing related to the port or something else, um, the board of commissioners in Chatham County can take that upon themselves, make the decision, and implement it. So I think in Chatham County it's a little bit different than the 13 counties that I'm referring to in Metro Atlanta. [0:58:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3488s) So I think- [0:58:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3488s) I think he's saying- [0:58:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3489s) Your... N- My question- [0:58:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3489s) I think he's saying the op- [0:58:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3489s) I'm sorry [0:58:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3490s) ... I think he's saying the opposite. He's saying- [0:58:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3491s) I, I apologize. [0:58:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3492s) No, you're fine. It, w- uh, uh, under the bill as currently written, you could have four people from Chatham County on the board, three people from within the non-attainment zone counties. Um, and he's, he's saying you could actually have f- kind of forces outside of the area that had control of the board, and that's, I think that's the concern, Senator. [0:58:30](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3510s) That, that absolutely is my concern, Mr. Chairman. From lines 187 to 190, uh, you would have three people appointed by the governor to have to be in the containment area, and then one from the House, one from the Senate, and the remaining two could be from outside of that area, meaning that control would no longer be w- restricted to those 13 counties. And you could have, uh, appointments from various portions of the state that don't even live in this area making those decisions, and that would be the majority. [0:58:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3538s) Got it. Okay. [0:59:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3540s) So Mr. Leader, walk us through just really quickly ex- uh, um, so the ATL gets consolidated into what you're calling the, what'd you call it? The Georgia T. What happens to GRTA? [0:59:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3557s) So basically, GRTA is dissolved. [0:59:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3561s) Okay. GRTA's dissolved. The ATL becomes the Georgia T. [0:59:25](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3565s) And the only, and basically the primary purpose of Georgia T is basically to accept those federal funds for projects. [0:59:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3571s) Okay. [0:59:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3571s) I mean, those funds have to go somewhere. Um, so as it relates to transit planning and all those kinds of sorts of thing, those sort of things, basically most of it just gets pushed between the county and ARC together as it- [0:59:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3585s) And then what changes, if any, are made to CRTA? [0:59:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3588s) Uh, in this bill, none. [0:59:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3589s) Okay. [0:59:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3591s) Thank you for the question. [0:59:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3592s) I just wanted to make sure that maybe to give a complete version. [0:59:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3595s) No, we... No, no, that's correct, 'cause we did talk about that in the last committee hearing. [0:59:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3598s) Yeah. Okay. Um, recognize Senator Ginn for a question. [1:00:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3603s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Section three mentions MARTA. MARTA's been around for about 55 years. I, I, I, I'm looking at how does, how does Georgia T and MARTA kind of coalesce? The, uh, uh, it, it ment- it references, uh, money collected in Fulton County, but it doesn't also recommend or, or, or have any statement that I saw. The, uh, read a quick look f- for what's going on in DeKalb County. [1:00:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3631s) What page are you on, Senator? What page are you on? [1:00:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3632s) When you start, start looking in section three, so the, uh- [1:00:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3634s) Page 18. [1:00:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3635s) Oh, okay. [1:00:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3637s) And, uh, p- so for me, I, I'm just, I'm trying to figure out, oh, okay, you're, you're creating a new entity. The, uh, but one's been around here for, for a long time. [1:00:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3650s) Right. So yeah. So this bill doesn't do anything in terms of the powers or anything related to MARTA. Again, all it does is reconfirms how the federal funds are drawn down to, uh, GT. Is that a Georgia Tech thing? I'm just kidding. [1:01:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3670s) Okay. [1:01:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3670s) Um- [1:01:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3671s) I like that [1:01:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3671s) ... but, but it doesn't, we didn't get into any of the, um, statutory anything that relates to, to MARTA. [1:01:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3680s) Well, yeah. [1:01:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3680s) Now, there is one thing we did find in the law. Some, maybe a couple of you are aware of this. I, it was a shocker to some of us that buried deep in Georgia statute, um, and I'm not sure if it happened when this bill was passed back in '18 or if it was a previous thing, um, there was something of a one-fifth penny that Fulton County could create, um, separate from the City of Atlanta for transit funds. And I don't know if that, that money is being collected or what happened with it, but in this bill, that, that goes away. [1:01:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3718s) And 2018 is the year that the ATL was formed. [1:02:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3720s) Correct. [1:02:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3721s) Just- [1:02:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3722s) Thank you. [1:02:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3723s) Leah, o- one of the other questions I wanna ask is, uh, i- in here it references the non-attainment zone, and we're all in attainment in, in Georgia as far as air quality and so forth today. The, uh, can you hit on that? What, what's your... Um, when, when you, you spell out non-attainment zone, w- what is it you're talking about? [1:02:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3747s) I think it- [1:02:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3747s) Where is that? [1:02:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3748s) Oh, it's like- [1:02:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3749s) 'Cause, 'cause Georgia's fully compliant in their air quality. [1:02:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3752s) No, that's right. [1:02:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3753s) It may not be next week [1:02:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3755s) Well, you never know. [1:02:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3757s) So see what you're questioning, Senator? Like, what's the- [1:02:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3760s) The TSA keeps the- [1:02:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3761s) 13 counties, right? [1:02:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3762s) Yeah. [1:02:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3762s) Static reference. [1:02:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3763s) Yeah. [1:02:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3763s) It's, it's held in time for a certain time period. [1:02:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3766s) Yeah. Since the '90s. [1:02:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3768s) Conformant at that time. [1:02:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3769s) Right. [1:02:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3771s) A- and, and for loosely, we, we use similar language. I, I only know this 'cause when we did our truck weight bill, we d- [1:02:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3777s) Mm-hmm [1:02:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3777s) ... we used that language. I think it's 13 counties. Is that right- [1:03:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3780s) That's correct [1:03:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3780s) ... Josh? And you can loosely think of those as metro Atlanta counties. [1:03:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3784s) They are. [1:03:05](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3785s) Yeah. [1:03:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3786s) And just because you said it, Mr. Chairman, just in transparency, there, there are code sections in here, um, as we went through and kind of updated this, that may touch areas around truck weights when you look at it. I wanna make sure we're very clear on the record nothing was changed, nothing was anything. Just a little reconformity, but no definite- nothing was changed. [1:03:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3812s) It- [1:03:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3813s) I- [1:03:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3813s) And, and last question, because when I look at this, I mean, you know, I, maybe I'm not, uh ... This is 45 pages of legislation that, you know, it's, it's, uh, late in the session, and I'm just curious, you know, how, how well it's been vetted through the process because, uh, I know, uh, for, for me, this looks like a pretty good wholesale change. The, uh ... Is that something we wanna do at the very end of a session? [1:04:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3844s) I, I think this is a very ... As I said at the last meeting, this is a very, uh, simple but very complex, um, you know, change. The complex change is just the way this thing was constructed back in 2018. Um, I mean, this, this is a lot of unnecessary government to basically get to basically drawing down federal funds, and all we're doing is giving power back to local communities to make the decision as to whether they want transit, and also, too, how those funds are dispersed, and also protecting communities from al- also un- unnecessary tax and burdens and powers that could be thrown on them. [1:04:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3887s) Um, you know, things like eminent domain. When we think about GRTA, I mean, GRTA in itself really isn't even an active agency. It's, it's dormant. [1:04:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3895s) It's- [1:04:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3895s) And it's dormant for a good reason. So, um, all this bill is doing and why it's, you know, this many pages, um, is because of basically unwinding all that stuff we did in 2018. [1:05:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3907s) I'm, I'm o- only thing I'm concerned about is the simplest. Uh, government is a dictator, Sandea, and, and, you know, you're, you're cutting down an awful lot of, lot of folks here to get down to that number, and I don't know how much the, the, uh- [1:05:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3921s) Well, yeah, Senator, I, I would argue this bill gets rid of the dictator. Because right now the ATL and the, and GRTA is the dictator. And this is putting more power in the, in the hands of the citizens and local folks to make decisions for, for their counties. And that's whether you're in the 13 or Senator Mallow, as we were talking about in Savannah, making sure his people are empowered when it comes to having access to these federal dollars. Um, if you have a community like Chatham County, maybe Effingham County, um, or somewhere else, where there's a lot of economic development projects, um, you know, to have the opportunity to, you know, leverage those dollars. [1:06:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=3963s) I mean, things ... You know, we think about innovation, we think about technology. You know, a lot of us, you know, the antiquated system of putting a bus on the road, um, and running it from point A to point B, that's one form of transit. But there's another form of transit where if, you know, um, me and Senator Mallow own two, two parcels of land somewhere in Savannah, and he's building a technology plant for one product, and I'm, uh, a, uh, supplier of that product, you know, building a, a, some sort of transit mobile line between the two factories to move people back and forth. [1:06:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4001s) Um, and maybe it doesn't even touch a public road or a state road or something like that. And I think that's the opportunity, I think, in some rural counties. Um, I'm not gonna get into the politics of whether rural counties want transit. I think we all know that they probably don't. Um, but I think there are opportunities for innovation that this, this gives. Um, and I think it takes these antiquated 1990 laws off the books, um, that could do real damage, uh, to local communities and force unnecessary taxation, um, you know, amongst citizens that don't want it, don't need it, and it gets the state out of their lives. [1:07:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4041s) So walk, walk me through that really quick. Walk me through the, the, essentially what can happen today as it relates to transit that you're, that you would characterize as kind of taking that c- control away from the locals. And if this bill passes, what does that look like then in the future? [1:07:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4057s) Yeah. I mean, just high level, Mr. Chairman, I mean, you know, from a transit planning perspective right now as it relates to, to the ATL and GRTA, is that basically they can write a transportation plan from Dallas to Cumming. And I don't know ... I mean, that could be trains, it could be bus rapid transit, it could be some other form of, of, of transportation. And basically right now they could say your community and my community basically have to figure it out and do it. [1:08:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4088s) And I think right now this creates a disruption of that. It takes the board members who are in those board seats to kind of approve these actions, takes them away, and it puts the, the decision-making power back to, you know, whether it's the city of Dallas or Paulding County government or the city of Cumming in Forsyth County, and it lets those local leaders and their delegations to collaborate and say, "Hey, do we want this?" And then those communities, you know, kind of in between. I think the other thing- [1:08:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4116s) So let me pause you there. [1:08:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4117s) Please. Yeah. [1:08:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4118s) So if, if Dallas and Paulding County wanted transit under the new law, what would be the process for them? [1:08:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4122s) Basically, they would go through the process. The cities and counties would have to, um, adopt, uh, local resolutions, and they would have to go on a countywide referendum. The voters would approve, and then the, and then the county would move forward with whatever that next step is. [1:08:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4136s) So, so there have been instances where Gwinnett County, for example, has had- Transit referendums. What's ... Maybe the last one was, I'm not sure, five years ago. Seems like it, they have had a couple that I've s- I've been aware of them. How are those getting placed on the ballot now versus what you're describing would change in the future? [1:09:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4155s) Yeah, so those are, those are being placed on the ballot, um, you know, I wanna kind of say a little bit indiscriminately. I know we passed another bill that Representative Carson is carrying, that puts a cap that those can only come back every eight years. Um, you know, so I think that's probably a little bit of a separate issue. But it doesn't diminish the powers that the counties still have a say to basically put something on, on a referendum. [1:09:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4180s) Talking about the eminent domain piece that you mentioned earlier that is, you s- described it as kind of a hidden power that, that GRTA has. What do they have the ability to d- to do as it relates to ... I, I think you said they can condemn property from a city? [1:09:53](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4193s) Yeah, they can, they can condemn property. And I mean, and just let me say it this way, um, and I can get you specific clarity and code section and line by line of, of where it is in this bill or where it was in this bill or the law. Um, but as a transit plan is created, um, and let's say we're gonna, you know, build a, you know, BRT down Cumming Highway or whatever the main road is through Forsyth County. Um, as they go through and do that process, they can leverage the powers of eminent domain. [1:10:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4226s) Um, just like sometimes, I know it gets sensitive with, you know, DOT around the state when there's projects to where they can almost do a taking, um, if they can't come to a resolution with a landowner. So, um, GRTA has these powers. I don't know that they have ever been used, at least since, you know, going back to 2002. I don't know if, if Governor Barnes and GRTA used them. But I know when Governor Perdue was elected going forward, all those powers were mothballed, and I don't know of a, a governor since then that has expressly used them, um, brought them to the table for any reason or any board or anything like that. [1:11:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4263s) I don't know if ... I, I don't think- [1:11:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4264s) Yeah, it's been described to me that GRTA has a lot of powers that have not been exercised. But that essentially the, uh, let me ... gonna use loose terms here, that they could shut down development, um- [1:11:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4275s) They could [1:11:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4275s) ... i- in the Atlanta area if they wanted to. Um, and so I, I do think that those probably have been ... I think you're probably accurately describing those as dormant powers, 'cause I don't know that the, the extreme e- edges, they've been utilized. But certainly, it's probably something that most people don't realize exists. Uh, any other questions from members of the committee? There is one person signed up to testify, so we'll take that testimony next. I wanna recognize Senator Gooch. [1:11:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4299s) Looking at the makeup of this new board, why, why did you remove the, the commissioner of the DOT? Why is he not on the board? [1:11:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4309s) I mean, I, I don't ... I mean, we just basically did. I mean, there's no reason. I mean, I, I know the commissioner- [1:11:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4316s) That's- [1:11:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4316s) ... is very sensitive to you. [1:11:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4317s) Well, he's sen- he's sensitive to all 11 million people in Georgia. He should be. Um, as a legislative branch of government, it looks like we're putting all the power to the governor. Uh, there's an election in November. No one in this building or on this planet knows who the next governor's gonna be. [1:12:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4334s) That's right. [1:12:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4335s) Uh, seems like a lot of power to shift to one person. All of this authority, all the assets, everything that was created by GRTA, SRTA, ATL over the years has been- ... literally decades of work to get us where we are. Granted, it's not perfect. Uh- [1:12:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4354s) It'll never be perfect [1:12:35](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4355s) ... the ATL was a two-year process. [1:12:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4358s) Right. [1:12:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4358s) It started out small, study committees. A lot of work was done to get there. It was a big- ... overreach in a lot of areas. So I applaud you for trying to streamline it and make it more efficient. But I'm just wondering, how many people have seen this document before today? How many people at GDOT have been consulted? Um, how many people in the ATL world have been involved? I don't know. I'm not trying to throw water on the bill yet, but- [1:13:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4391s) Right [1:13:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4391s) ... before I vote for it, I need to get more comfortable that there's been somebody in the transportation world that's helped with this to get it- [1:13:18](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4398s) Yeah, I, I know in kind of the, the SRTA, ATL world, I mean, they've, um ... As we've had questions, I mean, we've ... They're aware. They've, they've, you know, given opinions or thoughts at least just in how the mechanics of things work, so that's not a surprise. Um, you know, I don't know that we've done a, a full run-through with, with GDOT and Josh. But I mean, most of this doesn't really change too much, except for what you were kind of describing with the board in terms of the, the, the mechanics of what GDOT can and can't do. [1:13:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4427s) Will this board have the ability to borrow money and leverage the assets to a, a P3 project, for example, like they do today with SRTA? [1:13:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4436s) That will be with DOT. [1:13:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4438s) D- DOT doesn't have authority to borrow money. [1:14:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4440s) Well, well, in sen- well, let me rephrase that. [1:14:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4441s) Nothing changes with SRTA, I believe, is what you're answering is correct. [1:14:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4443s) Correct. I'm sorry. Yeah. [1:14:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4444s) So all the, all the borrowing will- [1:14:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4446s) All that ... Yes, all that stays the same. [1:14:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4447s) No borrowing- [1:14:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4448s) I'm sorry, yes [1:14:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4448s) ... no borrowing is allowed under this board. [1:14:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4450s) All they do is basically receive the federal funds, and then basically how they leverage those federal funds, as SRTA is today and as GDOT is today, those things have not changed. [1:14:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4461s) So where's the connect? If they're taking the federal funds, where's the connection to GDOT on the STIP and the st- and the TIP process? Because you've got to have- [1:14:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4471s) So the T pro- [1:14:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4472s) You've got- [1:14:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4473s) The TIP process will be, will be under the commissioner. [1:14:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4476s) So the commissioner's not on this board, so where's the authority- [1:14:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4479s) That's correct [1:14:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4480s) ... vest in the board to even listen to the commissioner of GDOT? [1:14:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4482s) That's correct. [1:14:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4483s) So you know what I'm saying? That's my concern. [1:14:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4485s) Right. [1:14:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4485s) If we don't have the commissioner of this, of the Department of Transportation on this board- [1:14:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4490s) That's fair [1:14:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4490s) ... with a strong influence- [1:14:53](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4493s) Mm-hmm [1:14:53](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4493s) ... then I think we're missing an opportunity. [1:14:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4495s) That's a good feedback. [1:14:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4495s) And I think that the weight of having the governor's appointments on this is too strong as well. So I don't know, I don't know how you fix that today. [1:15:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4504s) That's fine. I mean, I'm- [1:15:05](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4505s) Senator Gooch, I was just- Spitballing something here. I wonder how this lands with you and- [1:15:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4509s) Mm-hmm [1:15:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4509s) ... and the leader. Uh, what if you gave the-- and this, Senator Mallow, kind of it would address your concern as well. Give the governor three appointments, all of which must reside in the, in the compliance zone counties. Give the lieutenant governor and the speaker two each. One of those two from each of them must reside. Uh, you would then have the seven-member board with four, with five people actually that would live within the area. And then, uh, you, you could have... Right now, he's got the governor appointing the chair. [1:15:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4540s) Um, uh, you could either have the governor still appoint the chair and have the GDOT, uh, commissioner be vice chair, or you could invert that and have the GDOT commissioner be- [1:15:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4548s) I just think- [1:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4549s) ... the chair [1:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4549s) ... I don't think having the commissioner on there should be an option. It should be a m- a must. Uh, and it shouldn't be at the pleasure of the governor or the lieutenant governor. [1:16:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4560s) I wasn't saying that. I was saying make that- [1:16:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4562s) Right [1:16:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4562s) ... an eighth- [1:16:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4562s) Absolutely [1:16:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4562s) ... you could make that an eighth member. [1:16:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4563s) It, it would have to be a, an, an additional member. The DOT commissioner, if he's not on this com- if he's not on this, I'll, can't vote for it today. Um- [1:16:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4571s) Okay [1:16:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4571s) ... Jeff, I feel strongly about that. [1:16:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4573s) Yeah. So, so in the bill, looking at a couple of notes. So the commissioner is a non-voting member. If you wanna make that or bump that up, I'm gonna leave that up to the committee. The other note- [1:16:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4584s) Where's that line number? Do you have that, that in hand? [1:16:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4586s) I don't. I'd have to find it. [1:16:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4587s) Okay. [1:16:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4588s) And then Senator Gooch, your other question about TIP approvals. So s- the TIP approvals will happen with Georgia T, but federal law gives, um, the ultimate TIP approval to the G- GDOT commissioner. [1:16:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4601s) Well, I think [1:16:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4605s) the planning director has the ultimate authority on that with the governor's blessing. And then the DOT board- [1:16:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4611s) And I think the other, and then the other part about why we designed the board the way it is as of now, um, is to make sure it, it conforms with Federal Highway and tr- Federal Transit Administration law. [1:17:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4623s) So just for historical purposes, and my brain's a little foggy, the ATL was created as a way to collaborate with all the dozens of different transit systems around the state. Primarily in Metro Atlanta and- [1:17:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4637s) Mm-hmm [1:17:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4637s) ... North Georgia. You had systems. And if y'all remember- [1:17:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4641s) Mm-hmm [1:17:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4641s) ... BLB, he did this video. He went on a train ride. He went from, uh, Cobb County all the way to- [1:17:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4646s) Can we talk about the video for a second? [1:17:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4648s) No, we- [1:17:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4648s) Please. [1:17:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4648s) This video is legendary 'cause he had just had sh- shoulder surgery. [1:17:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4651s) That's right. It went- [1:17:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4653s) And- [1:17:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4653s) ... it went viral, didn't it? [1:17:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4654s) It went viral, and it's a different look. Um, so it, it's worth going, it's worth going and seeing the style. [1:17:40](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4660s) He had long hair then. [1:17:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4661s) In fact, um, Sydney, will you just Google real quick and see if we can find that- [1:17:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4665s) I ain't going to Google [1:17:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4666s) ... vid- we don't need... We'll, we'll come back to it if you can find it. But- [1:17:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4669s) You know, I think- [1:17:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4669s) ... it's Senator Beach and Bernie Tokars. [1:17:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4671s) That's right. [1:17:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4672s) And they traveled around, and it took them, like, nine hours to get from- [1:17:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4674s) It took them all day to do- [1:17:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4675s) Yeah [1:17:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4675s) ... what should've been a- [1:17:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4676s) From Gwinnett County to Cobb County or something. [1:17:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4678s) Right. So the idea was, let's coordinate, let's communicate, let's create an app, and it grew into what's now the ATL. I mean, you could probably criticize a lot of things that was in that bill. And so I'm not sitting here defending it. [1:18:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4692s) No, it would be like 2015. [1:18:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4693s) No, no. You're good. [1:18:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4694s) And so I appreciate what you're trying to do. So- [1:18:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4696s) Um [1:18:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4696s) ... I just don't want us to throw the baby out with the bathwater if- [1:18:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4700s) No, but, but I mean- [1:18:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4701s) ... if there's some good things in there that need to be kept [1:18:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4701s) ... if y'all wanna add, you know, the commissioner, I mean, as a, as a non-voting member, I mean, I think that's fine. [1:18:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4706s) I think he should be a voting member personally. Um, but I don't wanna grow your board back to where it was. You said there were 11. [1:18:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4711s) Yeah, I think we just need to check and see if that is gonna have any issue with federal law. I don't know if Josh even knows the answer to that. I don't- [1:18:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4719s) I probably can't imagine. [1:18:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4721s) Yeah. [1:18:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4721s) Extra conflict going on. [1:18:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4722s) Here, Josh. [1:18:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4726s) Yes. I don't know if I would- [1:18:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4727s) I think he's- [1:18:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4728s) I don't know if he would want him as a chair. [1:18:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4729s) There's the, there's the video for those that are- [1:18:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4731s) All right. [1:18:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4732s) Mr. Chairman, I think as, as, as your last- [1:18:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4734s) It's a long, it's a long video. [1:18:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4734s) You don't need to watch it, but- [1:18:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4735s) As your last committee, I think you should... You know, let's play videos. [1:19:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4743s) But the version I saw- [1:19:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4744s) Look at that live confirm DOT video [1:19:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4744s) ... has him sitting in an office with a, he had a sling on from having had shoulder surgery. Um- [1:19:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4749s) He made a, he made a valid point in his story. [1:19:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4751s) Yeah, and it was, it was a good illustration- [1:19:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4753s) Yeah [1:19:13](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4753s) ... of how difficult it was. [1:19:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4754s) That's right. And it is, it was a problem. And it's, it's better than it was, but- [1:19:18](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4758s) So I'm, I- [1:19:19](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4759s) I worked at State Senate where I chaired- [1:19:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4760s) Camera. [1:19:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4761s) Yeah, we don't, we don't need it. We don't need it rolling. We're- [1:19:23](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4763s) Leave it and let it run. Right back to that. [1:19:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4767s) So- [1:19:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4768s) So I, I'm trying to solve, um, on the fly here, Senator Gooch, your... I think you've got a couple options. Um, I would agree that having a heavier piece of influence on the board from the president of the Senate and the, the Speaker is probably wise. [1:19:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4785s) Yes. [1:19:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4786s) So they each have one. If you change each of them to two, you can change the governor to three. Um, if the governor's three all had to reside in a county within a compliance zone, and then one each from the speaker and- [1:19:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4799s) This is for non-voting [1:20:00](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4800s) ... the lieutenant governors, if theirs two had to reside, that gives you then five that reside and, uh, at least five, I should say, that reside out of your seven, um, which gets to Senator Mallow's concern. Then we just need to reverse engineer what you wanna do with the, with the GDOT commissioner. Is he- [1:20:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4816s) Gotcha. So it'd be- [1:20:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4817s) So, yeah. So we just talked, and because he has oversight over the federal funds, he has to be a non-voting member. [1:20:26](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4826s) He cannot vote. [1:20:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4827s) Correct. [1:20:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4827s) Okay. So he would be an ex officio- [1:20:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4828s) Because of compliance [1:20:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4829s) ... non-voting member. Is that currently, or at least it not, doesn't need to be ex, so he could be a non-voting member. Is that currently in this- [1:20:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4836s) I don't think so [1:20:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4837s) ... language? [1:20:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4837s) That part I don't think so. [1:20:38](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4838s) I don't. [1:20:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4839s) Jen, can you work on a, a part four, please, um, after 190? That w- it would be an amendment. Um, would you be... [1:20:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4855s) So I think at a minimum we're gonna go in the direction of making the c- the GDOT commissioner a member of the board, but he would be a non-voting [1:21:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4864s) member. And does that, does that work, Josh, as far as you know, he can be a, a, a- He can be a member, but as long as it's- [1:21:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4874s) Because this entity operates transit. GDOT does the safety oversight for transit. So he, I believe he under law, he's not voting like he is on MARTA. [1:21:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4884s) Okay. [1:21:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4888s) Mr. Leader, what do you think about this shift f- away from your 5-1-1 setup to going with a 3-2-2, requiring all three of the governor's picks to live within the, within a county that's in the compliance zone, allowing and requiring one of the two from each of the president of the Senate and the speaker to be within a county? That would give you five voting members that are within a county, which gets to Senator Mallow's first question. [1:21:54](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4914s) Yeah, we can give it a shot. I'm not aware of a, a conflict right now. [1:21:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4919s) Okay. Um, w- w- when we get to the, the part of making motions, we can discuss that further. Are there any other, other questions from the committee? All right, I do have one person signed up to testify. Um, Jennifer, why don't you come just to the podium here, and we'll go ahead and- [1:22:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4937s) Yeah, turn the- [1:22:18](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4938s) ... turn your mic on, and you can let us know what you think. You've- [1:22:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4940s) This one? [1:22:22](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4942s) You've got the mic. [1:22:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4944s) Thank you for your time. Jennifer LaRosa with, uh, MARTA, senior director of Government Community Affairs. And all my comments take in consideration we have not seen this bill, and it is a lot of changes. I will say that we were neutral to the overarching existence of the ATL in the previous renditions of this. And I do have concerns around the formula funds, or the federal funds that you're talking about, because our understanding is these formula funds are very, uh, restricted to who they go to and how they're spent. And otherwise, um, prior to the ATL's existence, we were the, uh, recipients. [1:22:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=4978s) As a direct recipient of federal funds, we would disseminate those funds in the region. Per the guidelines of those funds, we did not hold back the eligible administrative set-aside, um, that the ATL does. The-- We did do the low income set-aside with a very transparent and competitive process for those funds. We would love to see whoever is going to be controlling these funds. We're happy to take them back if that's the case for the region. But if any other entity is going to continue to do so, some transparency of that competitive process. [1:23:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5008s) For instance, we have not seen those funds for the past two years, um, but they are set aside and kept. So, um- [1:23:36](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5016s) What do you mean when you say you haven't seen them for the last two years? [1:23:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5019s) We have not been recipients of the funds that were set aside for those low income funds, or set aside for the formula funds. [1:23:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5024s) So who's the designated recipient of those funds currently? [1:23:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5027s) The ATL is. [1:23:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5028s) Okay. [1:23:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5028s) Yeah. [1:23:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5029s) Okay. So there's some funds that y'all are dedicated recipients for, and some funds that the ATL is a dedicated recipient for? [1:23:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5035s) We are a direct recipient, which means we can receive- [1:23:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5038s) Direct, okay [1:23:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5038s) ... federal funds for certain circumstances, like a project whenever we apply for a federal grant specifically for us. But the formula funds, which are based on, uh, are only given to transit providers based on service, uh, that we gave a year or two prior. So we have to turn in the service we provided, and then the federal government has a formula that they decide how much we get then after. [1:24:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5061s) And that right now is- [1:24:22](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5062s) Those all flow through the ATL [1:24:23](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5063s) ... is flowing through the ATL. [1:24:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5064s) Which- [1:24:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5064s) Which was, I think, the, one of the primary purposes wh- when they set it up of at least one of the things that they was, they were envisioned to be able to handle. [1:24:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5073s) Right. And so they do keep, um, an administrative fee in the low income set-aside that they're eligible for. And so we would just- [1:24:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5081s) How much is that administrative fee? Do you know? [1:24:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5083s) I think total between the two of them, it's about 4.234 million a year. [1:24:49](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5089s) Out of how much? [1:24:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5090s) Uh, [1:24:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5097s) in 2025, 31. [1:25:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5101s) Okay, so call it 15%. [1:25:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5103s) Mm-hmm. [1:25:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5103s) And your question would be whether this new entity does the same thing or not? [1:25:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5108s) Correct. [1:25:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5108s) Okay. [1:25:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5108s) And if it does, all we would request is some transparency behind those processes and where those funds are going. [1:25:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5114s) Okay. Got it. [1:25:16](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5116s) Um, I will also say that, uh, MARTA only receives two regular funding sources. This is one of them, the other being the sales tax for the penny. And so these funds are crucial to our daily operations on a regular basis and our State of Good Repair program. And so I would, um, also echo Senator Mallow and Senator Gooch's, uh, feelings about having some representation from the region on the board, especially GDOT. He, uh, Russell is currently an ex officio on MARTA, SRTA, and the ATL. [1:25:47](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5147s) And so I would, uh, appreciate that change, especially with the transit trust funds not having, again, not read the bill and seeing how those would be overseen. Having some regional representation on the funds, um, and those locals choosing those projects would be nice. [1:26:01](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5161s) Okay. [1:26:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5164s) I'm not sure. Is that an extra folder, Senator Burns, next to you? I wonder if we can get her a copy of the bill. Um, Leader Anavi- Leader Anavitarte, can you, did you hear? I, I know there was some cross talk going on as well. Did you hear what she was asking relative to essentially transparency around the, and I'm, I'm not super tight on these terms, but the dedicated recipient funds. And then right now she's saying that, that the ATL keeps about 4 million of the 32, I think you said, or 31 million. [1:26:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5197s) Um, a piece of that for basically an administrative fee, and then a piece of that is for some sort of low income appropriation that they do outside of that. D- does this bill address either of those things? And if not, um, it's probably something that needs to be considered. I, I think the request is, was, was essentially the, what, a publishing of what that is. [1:26:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5219s) A very transparent, competitive process for the funds- [1:27:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5222s) Okay [1:27:02](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5222s) ... which is outlined in the federal formula law. [1:27:06](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5226s) Okay. [1:27:09](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5229s) So- [1:27:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5231s) Turn you back on there, Warren. [1:27:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5232s) No, I appreciate it. So- According to my notes, what I have, I mean, as it relates to Marta, um, all of its FTA formula funds since '18, when the designated recipient was changed, uh, TATL, they have received, um... I'm not aware that Marta's received any state transit trust fund dollars from things like the Uber and Lyft fees, for example. Um, [1:27:41](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5261s) that's what I... I mean, and then I think in terms of the $4 million, I mean, we went back and looked, and I think the, the, the real number, um, in terms of administrative fees is probably less than 2 million. So I think there's- [1:27:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5271s) Yeah, she was combining, I think, two numbers on that, right? [1:27:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5272s) Two numbers, right? [1:27:53](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5273s) That, on that 4 million was combining this low-income piece- [1:27:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5275s) Okay. [1:27:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5275s) Mm-hmm [1:27:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5275s) ... plus the, the administrative fee. [1:27:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5277s) Right. [1:27:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5278s) So do you envision the administrative fees staying with this GT? [1:28:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5283s) Yeah, I mean- [1:28:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5284s) Okay [1:28:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5284s) ... yeah. And there's no with-holding of the funds in terms of TTF funds for administrative usage. [1:28:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5294s) Anything else you wanted to add? Any questions, um, for Jennifer? [1:28:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5301s) Okay, I don't see any. Thank you for your testimony. Any other questions for- [1:28:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5308s) Can we go back? [1:28:28](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5308s) Yes, um- [1:28:30](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5310s) Number five. [1:28:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5311s) Number five. [1:28:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5312s) I, I think it's been brought up by text that the commissioner of DOT can be a voting member of this board, so I would recommend we make that amendment w- at the appropriate time. [1:28:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5323s) Okay. [1:28:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5323s) And I'll let the, I'll let the majority leader explain that if he would like. So- [1:28:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5328s) So- [1:28:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5328s) 'Cause he won't have oversight over heavy rail. [1:28:50](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5330s) That's right. [1:28:56](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5336s) Okay. [1:28:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5337s) So I think you're reducing the number of appointments by the governor. Making the commissioner of DOT an active voting member of this board would be a appropriate, in my opinion. [1:29:07](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5347s) If we did what I talked about and you did that, you'd have eight members. Does that give anybody heartburn, or is that, you're comfortable with that? We can, we can discuss it when we get to that point, but- [1:29:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5355s) Yeah. It would blow up the board bigger. [1:29:17](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5357s) Say it again. [1:29:18](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5358s) Well, it, well, it might get bigger. [1:29:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5360s) It would. [1:29:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5360s) You gotta, you gotta take it from somewhere. [1:29:22](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5362s) Let, let's get to a motion on, on this, and then we can discuss it at, at that time, if that works for everybody. Um, any other questions? All right, I'll then entertain a motion. [1:29:32](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5372s) So moved. [1:29:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5373s) Got a motion from Senator Burns of due pass on LC395117S. Is there a second? [1:29:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5384s) Second. [1:29:45](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5385s) I got a second from Senator Dixon. Any discussion? Senator Burns, um, why don't you grab three there? [1:29:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5395s) Yeah. [1:29:55](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5395s) Just, just a comment. And, uh, I wanna thank the leader for bringing the bill. This is a process, and we recognize that we've gotta continue the process. I think the discussion's been positive. I think we've learned a lot. I think as we move forward, it's gonna see refinement. I, I do, uh, support perhaps a, a friendly amendment on the, uh, on the DOT commissioner being part of this board. [1:30:18](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5418s) Thank you, Senator. Recognize Senator Mallow. [1:30:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5420s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, familiar with r- restructuring transit boards. I've done it a few times. Um, I think if we went, went and took the seven-member board to a nine-member board, codified the GDOT commissioner, and add an additional appointment in there, that would give us the flexibility. But I just wanna make sure however we structure it, that the majority of the appointees are affected in the affected counties- ... so that people who are non-affected don't get appointed to a board and make decisions in communities they don't live in. Um, and I think it's important, uh, as those 13 counties know what's best in transit. [1:30:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5452s) They all work together, cooperate. So however we could structure that, I would think a nine-member board would be applicable, especially for the large, uh, nature of the funds that they would be, uh, deciding. [1:31:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5463s) So if I were to spitball what you're talking about, you could give the governor four. You could require that three of the governor's four live within, uh, the area. You give the speaker and the lieutenant governor each two, require that one of theirs each, both live in the area, so that would give you five that live in the area. Then you would have a line number four that you would add, making the commissioner of GDOT a member. That would give you a nine-member board, five member, at least five members of which would live within the compli- a compliance zone county. [1:31:37](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5497s) I think you read my mind, Mr. Chairman. [1:31:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5499s) Okay. Uh, [1:31:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5504s) no, they get two. They each get two- [1:31:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5506s) Each get two [1:31:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5506s) ... and then one would be in the area for each of them. [1:31:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5508s) Yeah. Is that- [1:31:51](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5511s) No, I think it's great. [1:31:52](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5512s) Okay. Thank you, Chair. Uh, Mr. Chair, at the appropriate time, I'd, uh- [1:31:57](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5517s) Recognize you for a motion [1:31:58](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5518s) ... I move to amend LC395117S to amend, uh, lines 186 and renum- renumerate, uh, accordingly, with the governor having four appointments, with three residing in a county within the compliance zone, the lieutenant governor, president of the Senate having two appointments, with one residing in a county within a compliance zone, the speaker of the house having two appointments, with one residing within a county within the compliance zone, and one appointment would be, uh, the GDOT commissioner, which should then also maybe be appointed by the governor, 'cause there has to be a body that appoints the GDOT commissioner. [1:32:42](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5562s) So making- [1:32:43](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5563s) It's not with Transportation. [1:32:44](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5564s) Oh, not with Transportation? Okay. Perfect. [1:32:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5566s) Just this. [1:32:46](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5566s) So then one GDOT commissioner. [1:32:48](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5568s) I would, um, accept that as a motion, but I think that you should change your, your three, your language to be at least three, at least one, and at least one. That way you don't preclude the- [1:32:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5579s) Absolutely [1:32:59](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5579s) ... lieutenant governor or speaker from having two of their two be within a county. [1:33:04](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5584s) Two of. I like that, uh, amendment, and that's in my amendment, so- [1:33:08](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5588s) Jen, does that give you something to work with? Okay. [1:33:10](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5590s) Perfect. [1:33:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5591s) I'll second. [1:33:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5591s) We have a motion to am- amend from Senator Mallow. We got a second from Senator Gooch. Any discussion on the amendment? [1:33:20](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5600s) All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. [1:33:23](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5603s) Aye. [1:33:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5604s) Aye. [1:33:24](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5604s) All those opposed like sign. All right, we're now down to the underlying bill. Any other discussion on the underlying bill? We are now at a motion of due pass as of, by substitute as amended on LC395117S. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. And the motion carries unanimously. Thank you, gentlemen, for being here today. That brings us to the close of this meeting. I'm gonna close this, my very last Senate Transportation meeting, by asking Sydney, um, can you put that photo up of... [1:34:03](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5643s) Not that one. Not that one. That one. [1:34:11](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5651s) Where is this, Mr. Chairman? [1:34:12](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5652s) This is in Forsyth County. [1:34:14](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5654s) In Forsyth County? [1:34:15](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5655s) Can y'all tell me what you're supposed to do when there's a stop sign and then a yield sign? [1:34:21](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5661s) I sort of like it. You can't get to either. [1:34:23](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5663s) You stop and you just- [1:34:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5667s) You can't get to either. [1:34:27](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5667s) I guess you pick one. Um- [1:34:29](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5669s) That's, uh, California style. This is Roland style. [1:34:31](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5671s) Yeah. There you go. [1:34:33](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5673s) That's so true. [1:34:34](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5674s) And with that, y'all, it's been a pleasure serving with you guys on this committee. Thank you all for a great biennial, and we are adjourned. [1:34:39](https://vimeo.com/1176709338#t=5679s) Is that a county road or a state route? That's-