SB-78
Infrastructure

Department of Transportation: report: state highway system: safety enhancements.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires Caltrans to analyze and report on potential highway safety improvements by January 2027.
  • Mandates identification of factors causing delays in implementing safety enhancements.
  • Establishes a requirement to develop strategies for expediting safety improvements on state highways.

Summary

Senator Seyarto's transportation safety initiative would require the California Department of Transportation to analyze and report on potential highway safety improvements, implementation delays, and acceleration strategies by January 2027. The legislation directs Caltrans to examine safety enhancement options across the state highway system while identifying common obstacles that slow their deployment.

The report must detail specific types of safety measures that could be implemented throughout California's highway network. Caltrans would need to document any recurring factors that impede timely delivery of these enhancements and outline concrete strategies to expedite their implementation. The findings would provide legislators with data to inform future transportation safety policies and resource allocation.

The measure includes a sunset provision that would repeal these reporting requirements on January 1, 2031. This creates a defined period for evaluating the effectiveness of the enhanced oversight approach while maintaining Caltrans' existing authority over state highway operations and safety programs.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB78 Seyarto et al
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
California State Senator
Co-Author
Joe Patterson
Joe PattersonR
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
160016PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires Caltrans to analyze and report on potential highway safety improvements by January 2027.
  • Mandates identification of factors causing delays in implementing safety enhancements.
  • Establishes a requirement to develop strategies for expediting safety improvements on state highways.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
California State Senator
Co-Author
Joe Patterson
Joe PattersonR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator Seyarto's transportation safety initiative would require the California Department of Transportation to analyze and report on potential highway safety improvements, implementation delays, and acceleration strategies by January 2027. The legislation directs Caltrans to examine safety enhancement options across the state highway system while identifying common obstacles that slow their deployment.

The report must detail specific types of safety measures that could be implemented throughout California's highway network. Caltrans would need to document any recurring factors that impede timely delivery of these enhancements and outline concrete strategies to expedite their implementation. The findings would provide legislators with data to inform future transportation safety policies and resource allocation.

The measure includes a sunset provision that would repeal these reporting requirements on January 1, 2031. This creates a defined period for evaluating the effectiveness of the enhanced oversight approach while maintaining Caltrans' existing authority over state highway operations and safety programs.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB78 Seyarto et al
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
160016PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member