Committee introduces 176-page transportation measure LC 4777 after divided debate

The Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment voted Tuesday to introduce LC 4777, a 176-page committee measure dated June 9, 2025, and scheduled an informational meeting and three public hearings this week, the committee’s co-chairs said.

The introduction moves the bill from internal drafting to public consideration and hearings this week; supporters said the package targets maintenance, transit and safety needs while critics objected to the process and partisan divisions.

Co-chair McLean opened the meeting and the committee’s male co-chair moved that "LC 4777 dated 06/09/2025 be introduced as a committee measure." The motion carried on a roll call vote: Ayes — Senator Meek, Senator Pham, Representative Evans, Representative Gamba, Representative Nathanson, Co-chair Gorsek and Co-chair MacLean; Nos — Senator Weber, Representative Helfrich, Representative Mannix, Co-vice chair Starr and Co-vice chair Bossard Davis. The chair announced that the motion passed.

Lawmakers spoke at length before the vote. Senator Starr said the committee historically produced bipartisan transportation packages and warned the current measure did not reflect that consensus: "I'm not gonna just be a stamp of approval on a on a partisan tax increase without, additional collaboration," Starr said, and announced he would vote no on introduction while leaving the door open for further negotiation.

Representative Gamba and Senator Pham expressed conditional support for introducing the measure so the public and members could review and amend it. Pham said the draft "appears to be moving in a direction that acknowledges the voices that we heard from across the state," citing priorities such as maintaining existing roadways, public transit and safe routes to school.

Several members criticized the timing and process. Representative Bossard Davis said the bill "was born in the basement and in secret" and called the posting timeline "outrageous and sloppy," noting the measure was posted on OLIS at about 8:05 a.m. the same day and is 176 pages long. Multiple members said they had not had time to fully digest the text before the meeting.

Committee leaders outlined the next steps: an informational meeting Monday at 5 p.m., a public hearing Tuesday at 5 p.m., and public hearings Wednesday and Thursday at 4 p.m., for "five meetings in the next four days," the co-chair said. Members noted a roughly 20-day window for amendments and further negotiation before subsequent votes.

The discussion mixed policy and process points: supporters emphasized reversing long-term disinvestment and improving safety and maintenance; critics emphasized the need for bipartisan collaboration and more time to analyze fiscal and industry impacts. Several speakers predicted that interest groups would offer predictable, opposing assessments once hearings begin.

With the motion to introduce approved, the committee will accept public comment and consider amendments during the scheduled hearings. The chair urged members and the public to review the bill on OLIS and continue discussions this month.