Assemblymember Wilson presented AB 697 to authorize the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an incidental take permit for a near‑term improvement project on State Route 37 between Mare Island and Sears Point. The sponsor and local officials described a multi‑phase approach: near‑term work could deliver congestion relief, enable transit access and advance wetland restoration, while a larger long‑term project would address sea‑level rise and full corridor resilience at far greater cost.

Nick Burton of the Solano Transportation Authority told the committee the interim project is largely funded for early phases and would reduce vehicle miles traveled and open the corridor to reliable transit. Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton Peters said commuters lose as much as 90 minutes each way when the bottleneck is closed.

Opponents including Transform and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria said the bill would fast‑track a highway widening project using a streamlining provision they said was not intended for lane additions, risk investing in a project that could be inundated by sea‑level rise, and — critically for tribal leaders — lacked enforceable tribal government‑to‑government consultation requirements. Transform said the near‑term project could cost roughly $500 million and may be underwater by mid‑century; Graton Rancheria’s counsel said there has been insufficient tribal consultation about cultural resources.

The committee passed the bill as amended to Appropriations. (Tally recorded in the hearing: yes 5, no 0 left on call.)