August 25, 2026 · Transportation · 1,392 words · 19 speakers · 69 segments
The Senate Transportation Committee will come to order. Good morning and welcome to everybody. We have one measure on today's agenda. A few housekeeping items. We're going to allow for two primary witnesses, each for support and opposition. Each witness will have two minutes. And additional witnesses will ask to limit yourselves to name, affiliation, and your position on the bill. We will entertain a motion on the bill when appropriate when a quorum is established. With that, Senator Hurtado, SB 661-591, please come up and present your item.
You can come up here to the podium. Good morning, Senator. Good morning, Mr. Chair and members. I'm here to present SB 661, the Airport Expansion and Regional Optimization Act, or the Aero Act, the abbreviated version. I have to admit that this is a big day for us on this measure because it's been a two-year effort, a bill that we did not think would make it to this point. so it's a big day in getting it just here. It's going to be a big deal for all of our airports, not just mine, although I got started with this bill because of the airport in my district, the Meadowsfield Airport in Bakersfield. There was a huge need to provide funding for infrastructure, but how do you do that in a way that doesn't hurt taxpayers. And that's where we came up with SB 661. I do want to give credit to Pro Tem McGuire Emeritus because he kind of initiated or started with this measure several years before I even got into the Senate is what I hear and struggled to get it done back Then again, this is why I say that it's a big deal to have this bill here in front of you today. Very proud of the work that the coalition has done and all the support that we've received from across my Senate district, but across many of the districts that you all represent. And with me, I have Jim Lights, who is the Executive Director of the California Airport Council and has been instrumental in moving the bill forward.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members. Jim Lights on behalf of the California Airports Council and the Association of California Airports. Commercial airports in the state currently have about $1.5 billion worth of FAA grant awards. Almost a billion dollars of that has yet to be drawn down. This bill will help ensure those funds are not jeopardized and finally move us towards compliance on this longstanding rule. Thank you very much.
Next witness, thank you for being here.
Good morning, Mr. Vice Chairman. Good morning, members of the committee. Alberto Tirico on behalf of the Airlines for America. I want to thank the author and her staff for her great diligence on this bill. I also want to thank my colleague Mr Leitz in the airports for reaching this very important agreement As has been alluded to this morning California has been out of compliance with the allocation of the jet fuel taxes that are collected since the 80s The last communication from the FAA is that we continue to be out of compliance So this is a great first step in coming into compliance. As Mr. Lights mentioned, it's important for us to be compliant, to draw down those federal funds. The second thing I would like to say is that separate and apart from the funds, the federal funds, the federal grants, there is a tremendous need for continued investment.
If I could interrupt just for a second, just because the minute we get quorum, I want to ask that was a quorum. Thank you. Seres Cortese.
Strickland. Here.
Strickland here. Archuleta.
Here. Archuleta here. Aragin. Aragin here.
Blakespeare. Hi.
Blakespeare here. Dali. Hi. Here.
Dali here. Gonzalez.
Grayson.
Menjivar. Here.
Menjivar here. Richardson.
Richardson. Here.
Richardson here. Ciarto. Valaduras. Here. Valaduras here.
Quorum is established. I'm sorry about that, but please continue. Not very important to establish a quorum. Thank you.
As I was saying, separate and apart from the federal grants, which are sizable, there is also potential and need for the investment of the jet fuel taxes to be invested in the airports and infrastructure, particularly as we approach the Olympics this summer. There are hundreds of millions of dollars in grants at play for LAX as well as collecting these titfuel tax and distributing them. And finally, I will say that not only does the proper allotment of the titfuel tax assist LAX and all the major airports, but significant ports also go to smaller airports, including the airport in the Senator's district. With that, we respectfully ask on that vote. Thank you.
Thank you. Other witnesses in support for identification purposes?
Yeah, Julie Malinowski on behalf of Southwest Airlines in strong support.
Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman and Members, Mike Belota on behalf of Delta Airlines in support.
Thank you.
Aaron Brianna with Crew Strategies in support on behalf of the San Diego Airport.
Thank you. Good morning.
Dylan Elliott on behalf of the Kern County Board of Supervisors in support.
Thank you. Good morning.
Kathy Van Austin on behalf of United Airlines in support.
Thank you.
Lauren Weshey on behalf of the Association of California Airports, our state's 243 general aviation airports in support.
Thank you. Good morning.
Trent Smith on behalf of the San Francisco International Airport in support.
Thank you. Any witnesses in opposition? Come back to the committee.
Senator Richardson. I intend upon supporting the bill. I just heard, I think it was Trent from the International Airports. Could the author just explain what are the impacts to the larger airports in terms of funding? For example, I represent LAX. So is this going to be a reduction in funding in any way? Or if you could just go over that.
I would like to have Jim Light's answer that question.
Yeah, so there's a formula in the bill that says 75% of all funding that would be derived from the bill goes back to the airport where that revenue was generated. So as the largest airport in the state, LAX, will get the largest share of that 75%. And then that will go down the line with SFO San Diego, basically based on size.
So the remaining 25% is like a cost to sharing to help the smaller aviation airport?
Most of that, yes.
Okay. Thank you.
Anything else from members?
Can I hear a motion Bill been moved by Senator Valadez Oh would you like to close Yes Thank you Mr Chair Senate Bill 661 is ready for takeoff and ready to land on the governor desk
I respectfully ask for an aye vote. That's a good close. You're waiting for that close. All right. Secretary, please call the roll. The motion is that the Assembly Amendments be concurred in. Senators Cortese, Strickland. Aye. Strickland, aye. Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, aye. Aragene. Aye. Arrigin, aye. Blakespeare?
Aye.
Blakespeare, aye. Daly?
Aye.
Daly, aye. Gonzalez?
Aye.
Gonzalez, aye. Grayson? Menjivar?
Aye.
Menjivar, aye. Richardson?
Aye.
Richardson, aye. Sayarto? Valadirez?
Aye.
Valadirez, aye. Wiener? That bill's at 9-0. We'll remain on call for the other members to add on.
Thank you. Thank you. You are otherwise ready, right?
Okay, thank you. So we are calling the Senate Transportation Committee meeting back to order. We're going to open the roll, and I'll ask the assistant to call the roll call this time. File item 1, SB661 by Senator Hurtado. The motion is that the Assembly amendments be concurred in. The current vote is 9-0. Senator Cortese?
Aye.
Cortese, aye. Grayson? Ciarto?
Aye.
Ciarto, aye. Wiener? All right. We're at 11 to zero. We're going to leave it open. A few more minutes. We're expecting Senator Wiener.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Yeah, education finance.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you
Thank you.
Thank you. We're calling the Senate Transportation back to order, and we're going to open up the roll and ask the assistant to call the remaining roll call. File Item 1, SB 661 by Senator Hurtado. The motion is that the assembly amendments be concurred in. The current vote is 11-0. Senators Grayson? Aye. Grayson, aye. Weiner? Aye. Wiener, aye. All right, 13-0. The bill's out. Thank you, everyone. We are now adjourned.