Transportation.

The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee has introduced legislation modifying transportation funding mechanisms and extending implementation timelines for several Vehicle Code provisions. The bill authorizes the Department of Finance to make zero-sum adjustments to Caltrans' capital outlay support program funding, subject to 30-day legislative notification.

The measure reestablishes a $1 transaction fee on private industry partners providing DMV electronic services, effective July 2025 through December 2028 or until sufficient system improvement funds are collected. It delays until January 2029 the implementation of specialized licensing requirements for towing heavy trailers and court authority to suspend licenses for speed-related violations.

For driver's license and ID card applications, the bill removes the January 2027 start date for National Marrow Donor Program registry enrollment solicitations, instead requiring the DMV to establish the timeline through a memorandum of understanding with NMDP. The measure also authorizes temporary preferential use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes for properly identified Olympic and Paralympic Games vehicles through January 2029.

The legislation appropriates $1,000 from the State Highway Account for Games-related transportation projects, allowing the Department of Finance to increase this amount by up to $20 million with legislative notification. As a budget-related bill, these provisions take effect immediately upon enactment.