To all members:
Yesterday the HOUSE Transportation Committee released their preliminary omnibus bill (attached) which constitutes the framework for their version of combined legislation with multiple components. It will be identified as HF 1683 (Hornstein) once that committee completes action on the bill this week. (Please note Article 4 of the attached language that starts on page 64 for pertinent sections.)
This House omnibus bill is their version of the Senate’s omnibus bill (SF 1154-Newman) that was shared with you recently. Ultimately each of these bills will be processed with respective floor sessions later this month and then be reconciled as a single bill with a conference committee for final passage.
Not surprisingly, the House and Senate versions differ in many areas overall, but some critical core components are included (but with different language though) in both omnibus bills:
- Both bills include DL filing fee increases
- Both bills include DVS sharing of their online and mail-in filing fees with full-service deputies
- Both bills include appeal process for permanent revocation of access
- Both bills allow deputies to provide vehicle information over the phone
- Both bills contain state reimbursement to deputies for security cameras/upgrades
Additionally, each bill contains elements found in one version but not (or not fully) in the other:
- Senate places all DLs on an 8-year cycle, House retains the current 4-year cycle. This also impacts proposed DL filing fee increases in each version.
- Senate creates DVS deputy fund with state captured MV filing fees only, House extends this to also include any state captured DL filing fees for the fund.
- Senate directs DVS to cover both the camera and eye exam equipment for all offices going forward, House has no comparable provision.
- Senate offers $1.25M for deputy security upgrades, House offers only $100K.
These are the primary differences in both bills from a preliminary “high level” review. There are also some additional technical differences that we are compiling and analyzing currently. The “devil is always in the details” and MDRA will be advocating to achieve the best outcomes for deputy offices!
Later today, the Senate Transportation Committee will vote on their version (SF 1154) and the House Transportation Committee is expected to vote on their version (HF 1683) Thursday after they take testimony tomorrow. Yesterday, deputy testimony was delivered in the Senate and will be offered likewise in the House on Wednesday. Brief testimony (jointly with DRBOA) focused on general support for advancing these proposals, but we recognize much work still remains when we eventually arrive at conference committee to reconcile and negotiate these two versions. However, having some essential “core” language that is contained in both versions to work with is very encouraging!
Thank you, deputies!
