SB731
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections, report.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Senate: Counties, Cities and Towns Substituteagreed to by Senate
Chief Patron:
Saddam Azlan Salim (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report.
Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to ... (More) a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/16/2026 - Senate: Presented and ordered printed 26104515D
- 01/16/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Local Government
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107439D-S1
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/20/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/20/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/20/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- 02/20/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 02/26/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 02/27/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 02/27/2026 - House: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26108776D-H1
- 02/27/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 03/01/2026 - House: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
- 03/04/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
- 03/04/2026 - House: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
- 03/06/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/09/2026 - House: Floor Offered
- 03/09/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 03/09/2026 - House: Delegate Helmer Floor amendments agreed to
- 03/09/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended
- 03/09/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute with amendments (62-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Counties, Cities and Towns Substituteagreed to by Senate Close Floor Vote
