Infrastructure

Expands highway safety rules to require drivers to change lanes or slow down for all vehicles with warning lights or devices. Applies to highway maintenance vehicles, tow trucks, and any vehicle using hazard lights, cones, or flares. Mandates drivers to move over one lane when safe or reduce speed to a prudent level. Establishes a $50 fine for violations of these expanded safety requirements.

Makes technical changes to driver's license duplicates and vehicle operation safety regulations.

Authorizes Madera County to transfer road commissioner duties to its public works director. Requires civil engineering tasks to be performed by a licensed engineer under the director's authority. Eliminates special permit and license requirements for the public works director.

Mandates accessible pedestrian signals at state-operated crosswalks to help visually impaired pedestrians. Requires touch-free pedestrian signal buttons at all new state highway crossings. Implements leading pedestrian intervals to give walkers a head start before vehicle traffic. Creates a statewide database to track and monitor pedestrian signal improvements.

Increases the maximum daily airport rental car facility charge from $9 to $12 starting January 1, 2026. Expands use of collected fees to cover major maintenance of airport rental car facilities. Limits fee collection to a maximum of five days per rental car contract. Requires airports to conduct regular audits and post financial reports online for public transparency.

Authorizes local agencies to generate additional revenue for freeway service patrols by allowing corporate sponsorship logos on tow trucks. Requires sponsor logos to be displayed separately from and without reducing visibility of the official Freeway Service Patrol identification logos. Mandates that sponsorship agreements must be exclusive, limiting each tow truck to one corporate sponsor.

Removes deed restrictions requiring public-only use of a specific Lynwood property transferred from Caltrans in 2016. Releases the City of Lynwood from a 15-year public use requirement on the Imperial Highway property. Enables the city to utilize the Alameda triangle portion of the property for non-public purposes.

Authorizes cities to create special financing districts for disaster recovery without standard planning requirements. Requires districts to use funds only for repairing disaster damage or preventing future disasters. Mandates two public meetings and online notices before establishing a climate resilience district. Allows districts to approve projects even if they conflict with local general plans.

Streamlines the state's broadband infrastructure permit process to accelerate deployment on highways. Requires transportation officials to approve or deny broadband permits within 30 days of a complete application. Mandates uniform permit requirements across California with no additional conditions for funded projects. Automatically approves applications deemed complete if no denial is issued within the timeline.

Makes technical changes to provisions regarding state highway maintenance and improvement.

Eliminates recertification requirements for paratransit users with permanent disabilities starting January 2027. Allows temporary paratransit eligibility for up to 180 days with a maximum of six consecutive renewals. Permits eligibility reviews only when expanding services due to worsening conditions or additional disabilities.

Establishes the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation to finance and accelerate infrastructure development across California. Creates a dedicated infrastructure fund that is continuously appropriated for financing public and private infrastructure projects. Authorizes the corporation to issue revenue bonds and provide loans without creating liability for the state. Requires annual public reporting while protecting private companies' confidential financial information.

Requires all port terminals to conduct mandatory safety inspections of intermodal chassis before release. Expands inspection requirements to include container devices, mud flaps, landing legs, and frame damage. Extends inspection record retention from 90 days to 6 months and requires repairs before transport. Prohibits retaliation against drivers who report unsafe chassis conditions or request reinspections.

Authorizes local agencies to develop alternative transportation plans for the canceled Feather River crossing project. Requires proceeds from excess property sales to fund regional transportation priorities. Allows Yuba City and surrounding counties to address local transportation needs through joint planning.

Establishes the Great Redwood Trail Agency as a state subdivision to manage rail services and trails in California's north coast. Requires annual budgets, regular audits, and competitive bidding for contracts exceeding specified thresholds. Exempts the agency from local building and zoning ordinances except for projects on non-agency owned property. Authorizes contracts with law enforcement to enforce agency rules and regulations on trails and facilities.

Authorizes the Sacramento Transportation Authority to issue bonds for toll lanes backed by sales tax revenue. Allows targeted transportation taxes in specific areas of Sacramento County with voter approval. Permits funding for infrastructure that supports transit-oriented development and reduces emissions. Requires CARTA's approval of toll facility plans before bond issuance for toll-funded projects.

Authorizes LA Metro and Santa Clara VTA to add a $5 fee on tickets for major 2026 sporting events. Requires transit agencies to provide free rides to event ticket holders on game days. Mandates all collected fees must support local transit operations. Requires agencies to report implementation details to the Legislature by January 2027.

Requires Senate confirmation for the Governor's five appointees to the High-Speed Rail Authority. Mandates geographical diversity in appointments to ensure statewide representation. Maintains the Authority's 11-member structure with four-year terms for voting members.

Extends California's road usage charge pilot program through January 1, 2035 to evaluate mileage-based fees. Addresses projected $4 billion annual decline in gas tax revenue due to increasing electric vehicle adoption. Continues testing payment systems that could provide gas tax relief for low-income drivers. Requires additional engagement with rural communities and tribal nations on road charge implementation.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to improve road safety across California.

Establishes a new black license plate program requiring 7,500 applications by January 2030 to launch. Requires additional fees ranging from $15 to $50 for plate issuance, renewal, and transfers. Directs excess revenue to the California Environmental License Plate Fund after covering administrative costs.

Requires a comprehensive study of economic opportunities along California's high-speed rail corridor by July 2026. Mandates infrastructure districts to spend most revenue on local projects within their jurisdictions. Explores funding mechanisms including federal grants, public-private partnerships, and development opportunities. Evaluates potential community benefits including density bonuses and expedited development near rail stations.

Designates portions of Route 76 in San Diego County as the Payómkawish Highway to honor Luiseño cultural heritage. Recognizes the historical significance of Route 76 as an ancient pathway used by Luiseño people for seasonal migration. Affects two specific segments of the highway between Oceanside and Lake Henshaw.

Requires transit board members to use public transit monthly to receive compensation. Mandates two nonvoting members on transit boards to represent riders and labor unions. Establishes four alternate nonvoting members to ensure consistent stakeholder representation. Protects nonvoting members from retaliation for their board meeting participation.

Establishes a pilot program for branded bicycle highways in two major California metropolitan areas by 2030. Creates bicycle-only networks that support speeds up to 25 mph and trips of 5 miles or more. Requires the Department of Transportation to report pilot program results by July 2031. Automatically terminates the program in July 2035 unless extended by future legislation.