High-speed rail: third-party agreements, permits, and approvals: regulations.

Senator Wiener's High-Speed Rail Delivery Reform Act establishes new regulatory frameworks for utility relocations and local agency permits affecting California's high-speed rail project. The legislation requires the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop internal rules by July 2026 governing utility infrastructure coordination and standardized timelines for third-party agreements.

The bill mandates early engagement between the Authority and utilities, regular project phase meetings, and binding dispute resolution processes. It requires cooperative agreements that clearly define roles, responsibilities, and cost allocations for utility relocations. The Authority must establish detailed cost estimates with contingency budgets for each utility relocation rather than bundling these expenses.

For local agency permits, the legislation creates parallel requirements for early coordination and cooperative agreements. The regulations will prohibit local agencies from requesting project-unrelated improvements or fees from the Authority. Both the utility and permitting frameworks emphasize streamlined review processes and reduced administrative redundancy.

The Office of the Inspector General must verify the Authority's implementation of efficient third-party agreement procedures before the new rules take effect. Beginning one year after implementation, the Inspector General will evaluate compliance, gather stakeholder input, and recommend improvements. The regulatory framework remains in effect until the Inspector General certifies the high-speed rail project's completion.