Representative Carpenter presented House Bill 10-98, a Department of Transportation measure that removes outdated 2009–2010 language and directs the state to harmonize two long-range statewide strategic transportation plans into a single, unified planning process. The sponsor said the change would reduce duplication and make internal planning more efficient.

Josh, identified in the meeting as a Department of Transportation staffer, told the committee the two plans at issue are visionary, long-range documents (the state SSTP and the federal SWTP) that do not themselves authorize specific projects or include constrained dollar lists. He said project authorization and programming remain the responsibilities of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). "They don't address specific projects," he said, adding that the STIP/TIP and the 10-year plan remain the mechanisms for identifying and funding near-term projects.

The bill also makes a drafting change that affects the department's authority to advance right-of-way acquisitions, altering an "and" to an "or" to clarify GDOT may act under either federally funded or state-funded processes. Committee members pressed staff on whether local governments would retain influence; DOT staff pointed to existing federal public outreach requirements and metropolitan planning organization (MPO) approvals in urbanized areas, which they said the bill does not change.

A member asked for an estimate of cost savings from the change; no specific dollar estimate was provided during the committee discussion. After discussion, a motion and second to "do pass" were recorded, the committee voted by voice and the bill passed out of committee and was referred to rules. Representative Carpenter was instructed to complete required rules paperwork.

Next step: House Bill 10-98 will proceed to the rules committee for scheduling on the House floor.