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INTERIM. Sharing Economy. West Coast Statewide Regulation.

Which state is considering statewide regulation of ride share? Oregon

What does the statewide regulatory proposal look like? 

  • Preemption. override local regulations that cause ride share comapnies to leave some cities
  •  Indepdendent Contractors.  Codify the employee status of drivers.
  • Commercial Insurance
  • Annual background checks.

The Oregonian | Uber wants Oregon Legislature to allow ride-hailing apps statewide

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. New Statewide Rules from the East.

Which state legislature passed new statewide ride share rules? Massachusettes

What fee does it levy? 20-cent per ride surcharge to fund state infrastructure improvements

What requirements are placed on ride-share companies?

  • insurance thresholds
  • two-step background check for drivers
  • no fingerprinting requirements
  • decals on ride share cars will be mandatory
  • cars will be required to pay commercial toll fees

What state agency will regulate ride share?  Department of Public Utilities…

5 Things to Know about Port of Houston Sale of Bayport Terminal.

  • Houston’s foray into the cruise ship industry included the Bayport Cruise Terminal, a $108 million project
  • Critics of the Bayport Cruise Terminal called it a “boondoggle”
  • Other critics said the problem was the industrial environment is not the scenery for a cruise ship terminal
  • In 2012, the Port approved $6.7 million in incentives to Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises
  • The numbers couldn’t compete with Galveston’s cruise data:
    • In 2016 Galveston will…

3 Ways to Legislatively Stop High Speed Rail

Potential Legislation for the 2017 Texas Legislature to Stop Texas Central Rail from using Eminent Domain:

  • Prohibit Texas Central from exercising eminent domain authority
  • Prevent Texas Central from using private lands for the project, if a 3rd party exercises eminent domain
  • Rep. Metcalf’s proposal to require elected officials in every city & county along the proposed route to approve it

KHOU | High-speed rail opponents hope to block project next year

2017 Calling. List of Legislators Speaking up. High Speed Rail.

  • Senator Birdwell:
    •  “I consider this issue far from resolved and I reiterate my steadfast opposition to the project — both for individual landowners who will be harmed by it in the short term and for the Texas taxpayers who will likely be asked to subsidize it in the long term.”
  • State Representative Will Metcalf:
    • “Fortunately for landowners and all who value property rights, the Surface Transportation Board made the right decision and declined oversight,” Metcalf said in a…

INTERIM TREND. Self Driving Cars. Federal Testing Sites. 4 Points Informed Intel.

Who is supporting self driving car testing sites? 3 Michigan lawmakers: U.S.  Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Representative Debbie Dingell

The propsed location: Michigan

the propsed testing site: 335-acre site, former home of General Motors Willow Run plant that  made bombers during World War II.

The purpose of a national testing site? To keep the U.S. competitive

NYTIMES | Testing Sites for Self-Driving Cars Become a Priority