Conference committee drops window-tinting provisions, delays crosswalk and trails effective dates

Members of the Senate Transportation conference committee met Thursday, May 29, and agreed to accept several House positions and timing changes while asking staff to finalize the bill text.

The committee agreed to remove provisions on window tinting from this year’s conference bill and adopt the House language on several other items, including delaying effective dates for bicycle crosswalk and legal-trail provisions.

The agreements came during a working session of the Senate-House conference committee on transportation policy. Conferee A, conference committee member, said, "We have one major topic left to cover," referring to the outstanding items the groups were still negotiating. Conferee B, conference committee member, acknowledged that the window-tinting provisions would not be part of the conference agreement this year: "It's not an issue we're going to let go of anytime soon. But in this case, today, we'll see the position of removing the language in section 39." The committee also discussed earlier section numbering, noting that older numbering for some provisions ("old numbers 40 and 41") can be rolled into the revised draft.

The committee recorded several specific agreements. Conferee B summarized the current status for staff: the SSI/SSDI reduced-fee provision will have a one-year delay on its effective date; the Senate will accept the House position on window tinting and "give up on those provisions for this year"; bicycle crosswalk language will follow the House text with a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026; and the House language for findings and intent on legal trails will be adopted. For the substantive legal-trail language itself, the committee agreed to the House language with an effective-date delay to April 1, 2026, and to add a clarification in the definitions pursuant to the chapter’s provisions.

Speakers also noted implementation and drafting work that remains. Conferee A said the conference report will include a longer section on effective dates with four subsections, requiring staff to renumber affected sections; about "20%" of sections may be renumbered to accommodate the changes. Committee members asked staff to prepare a final consolidated draft and return later that day if possible. One member said, "We will wait till we hear from Damien," referring to staff work needed to align the legal-trail language and effective dates; Damien, staff member, was identified by the committee as the person who would complete that work.

The session included broader comments about inspections and enforcement unrelated to final text changes; Conferee A said the committee remains "concerned about, frustrated, and getting a clear message on inspections overall and enforcement," and that enforcement would be a priority for the following year. No formal roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript excerpts; the items were recorded as committee agreements to adopt the House positions or to delay effective dates as noted.

Staff were directed to assemble the agreed changes, renumber affected sections, and circulate the consolidated conference draft for committee review. The committee signaled intent to reconvene after staff completes the drafting work, with members estimating an afternoon return if schedules allow.