Senate committee hears bill to make automated work‑zone enforcement permanent

Senator Gookt told the Senate Transportation committee on Friday the 16th that S 35 would make permanent the Agency of Transportation's authority to use automated traffic law enforcement systems in work zones.

"This bill proposes to make permanent the agency of transportation's authority to use automated traffic law enforcement systems in work zones, also known as ATLE," Senator Gookt said, describing the measure as a short, one‑page bill with a small overflow onto a second page.

The bill would convert a prior pilot into ongoing authority. "This bill just proposes to, take that pilot and make it a permanent practice to use these ATLEs in work zones," Gookt said. He and other senators framed the proposal as a safety measure for flaggers and other road workers who face verbal and physical dangers while directing traffic.

Senator Harrison told the committee, "Safety is imperative," and said accidents occur more in summer than winter and that the cameras would protect not just flaggers but "all sorts of folks who are who are doing work there." Committee members discussed that the measure is an authority change rather than a spending bill: "Well, this shouldn't have any money in it anyway. They already they're doing it now. So just it's just authority," one senator said.

Committee members noted workforce concerns for flaggers and broader road crews and mentioned that recruitment is becoming more difficult. The sponsor said the ATLE pilot passed last year and that the pilot timeline runs through July 1, 2025, until Oct. 1, 2026.

Committee members said they expect to revisit the bill in January. Gookt told the panel that a separate, related bill that would allow municipalities to opt in to ATLEs was expected to be introduced soon but would be handled separately from S 35.

No formal vote or final action was taken at the meeting; committee members discussed next steps including scheduling the bill for committee consideration in January.