+1 Private Rail proposal in the Labor Conquers All State

State: Oklahoma

The private rail proposal: A freight rail company  is seeking proposals from private rail carriers to provide passenger service between Tulsa and Oklahoma City

The legislative pathway:

  • 2011 created a task force
  • Task Force offcers ways to link northeastern Oklahoma with the existing Heartland Flyer passenger service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth
  • State of Oklahoma sold an existing rail line to Watco, the Kasnas freight rail company

US News and World Report | Company…

2 Policy Reasons for Passing Data Security Bills for Smart Vehicles

Bills that criminalize hacking smart vehicles would:

  • protect health and safety if the hack was to harm people
  • protect economic well being if the hack was intended to obtain credit card information stored in the car’s systems, financial data or hold the vehicle for ransom

Freight Waves | Cybercrime regulations over ‘smart’ connected vehicles and its impact on civil liability 

 

3 Things that Happened when a State Barred Local Traffic Cameras

State: Ohio Legislature banned local governmental entities form using speed and other traffic enforcement cameras

The legislation: HB 64 (2015 | OH). & HB 410 (2018 | OH)

The aftermath of HB 64 (2015 | OH) & HB 410 (2018 | OH):

  • lawsuits. 
    • A lower court issued a permanent injunction
    • The State Supreme Court said, the injunction interfered with the Legislatures ability to pass laws
  • state penalized cities that garnered revenue from the traffic enforcement cameras
    • Toledo budgeted…

Top 3 States for State EV Purchasing Policies. New Study. Newish Coalition.

The study: ZEV State Policy Scorecard

Study authors:  Electrification Coalition, a nonprofit group of business leaders seeking to facilitate the deployment of EVs on a mass scale

Top 3 States for state EV purchasing policies: 

  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Maryland

3 State policies that impact state rankings:

  • how states provide consumer incentives for purchasing EVs
  • how states make refueling infrastructure available
  • how states educate the public about the alternative drivetrains

Automotive…

By the numbers. Automaker Spending on EV & AV. The legislative & regulatory frontier. Bonjour new laws & rules.

  • In 2017 $226 Billion spent by automakers on EV & AV 
  • 2017 numbers are up 47% from 2012
  • By 2023, $255 billion in R&D and capital expenditures
  • 22.5% of Americans are “likely” to purchase a plug-in electric vehicle

ALIX PARTNERS | A ‘pile-up of epic proportions’ awaits auto industry as investments necessary to an electric and autonomous future balloon just as market slows, according to AlixPartners study

Tech Crunch |  Automakers are burning through billions in EV, AV race

13 States +1 Adopt Higher Emissions Standards. Red. Blue. & Purple States.

States imposing the current federal emissions standards, that match the California emissions standards:

  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Maine 
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • + Colorado

Fox 31 Denver | via AP | Colorado to adopt California’s stricter car pollution rules

3 Reasons Colorado Governor Orders State to Comply with Stricter California Emissions Standards. The Opposition:

On June 19th, Colorado Governor ordered the state to comply with California emissions standards because:

  • to resist the Trump administration softening of emissions rules
  • to protect farmers, farming and farm land
  • to protect the Colorado wilderness
  • to protect communities “susceptible to air pollution and a changing climate”
  • for Colorado’s health and future

The opposition: Colorado Automobile Dealers Association

What does the opposition say: 

  • more Coloradoans buy large trucks and SUVs
  • “We’re…

Business TREND. Insurance Policies for Ride Share Riders.

Business: Startup Sure Inc. and underwriter Chubb

The insurance policy: 

  • “RideSafe” policies for ride share passengers
  • accidental medical, death and dismemberment insurance coverage for the ride

Doesn’t ride share cover liaility insurance that covers passengers? Yes, but this policy will:

  • cover some of those gaps in coverage
  • cover medical copayments
  • cover times when the ride share libaility poliocy is not in effect
  • cost is $2.40 for 24 hours of coverage on any number of rides

Availaibilit…