Department of Transportation and local agencies: streets and highways: recycled materials.

Assembly Member Hoover's legislation would permanently require California local agencies to maintain minimum recycled material standards in street and highway construction that match or exceed state Department of Transportation specifications. The bill removes the current January 2027 sunset date for these requirements while establishing new transparency measures around agency compliance.

Under the proposed changes, contractors bidding on local agency projects could request explanations when agencies determine that meeting state recycled material standards is not feasible. Agencies would need to provide their reasoning via email to the contractor's designated point of contact. The requirements apply to recycled base and subbase materials, reclaimed asphalt pavement, and various concrete components including reclaimed aggregate, fly ash, and returned plastic concrete.

The legislation excludes special districts, cities with populations of 25,000 or fewer residents, and counties with populations of 100,000 or fewer from these mandates. It also removes existing requirements for agencies to use advanced technologies and material recycling techniques aimed at reducing maintenance costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission on State Mandates would determine whether affected local agencies qualify for state reimbursement of any additional costs imposed by the new requirements.