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Committee hears debate over keeping ban on public funding for fully automated port equipment
Summary
Supporters including longshore unions urged the House Local Government Committee to remove a sunset and make permanent a restriction on using public funds to buy fully automated marine cargo-handling equipment, while industry groups warned the change could limit competitiveness and public investment into port modernization.
A House Local Government Committee public hearing on Senate Bill 5995 featured competing arguments over whether state funds should ever be used to purchase fully automated cargo-handling equipment at public ports.
Sen. Salman, sponsor of SB 5995, told the committee the bill removes a 2031 sunset on a 2021 law that authorizes ports to buy zero- and near-zero-emission equipment while prohibiting use of public dollars to purchase fully automated container-handling systems. "It just says we're gonna remove that sunset clause," Salman said, adding that the change helps protect "working wage family jobs at ports." (Sen. Salman)
Labor witnesses described job preservation, worker safety and operational reliability…
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