The Transportation and Safety Committee advanced a package of bills and approved the Department of Safety budget during its Oct. 12 meeting, moving most measures to the next legislative step.

Why it matters: The votes send a mix of policy updates and funding proposals — from vehicle and public‑safety penalties to a proposed reallocation of sales tax revenue for road maintenance — to later stages where they will face floor or finance committee consideration.

Most significant outcomes
- Senate Bill 728 (UTV/ATV rule updates): Passed as amended (8 ayes). Sponsor: Senator Lowe.
- Senate Bill 778 (license points for driving without a license): Passed as amended (8 ayes). Sponsor: Senator Lowe.
- Senate Bill 429 (making shining a laser at an operator a Class B misdemeanor): Passed (tally read as unanimous of those voting; committee moved the bill to calendar).
- Senate Bill 248 (prohibiting stopped vehicles from impeding traffic/soliciting in medians): Passed (8 ayes) and moved to calendar.
- Senate Bill 144 (reallocating vehicle and tire sales tax toward recurring transportation funding): Passed (8 ayes, 1 present-not-voting) and advanced to finance.
- Senate Bill 1297 (digital driver’s license safeguards; Department of Safety administration bill): Passed (9 ayes) and moved to calendar.
- Senate Bill 217 (authorizing TDOT memoranda of understanding to plan homeless‑encampment responses): Passed (7 ayes, 1 no) and moved to calendar.
- Senate Bill 1069 (rolled and later passed as amended): Passed (9 ayes) and moved to calendar.
- Department of Safety budget (including a floor amendment removing the house‑of‑worship grants line): Passed out of committee to finance (budget passage read as 9 ayes).

Committee process and votes: Committee roll calls were taken on each bill after amendment votes and sponsor remarks. The committee chair recorded counts after the clerk read member responses for each item.

What the votes do next: Passed bills move either to calendar or to the Senate finance committee as announced by the chair; the Department of Safety budget will be considered in the Senate finance process.

Ending: The committee adjourned after taking votes and advancing its agenda; several bills will receive further fiscal review or floor scheduling in upcoming sessions.