Regional Transportation & Agency Governance

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 projects exceeding cost thresholds. Exempts the agency from local building and zoning laws except for projects on non-agency owned property. Authorizes contracts with law enforcement agencies to enforce trail rules and regulations.

Increases monthly compensation for school board members from $1,500 to $7,500 maximum based on district size. Allows school boards to raise member compensation by up to 5% annually with board approval. Maintains reduced compensation for members who miss meetings unless absences are officially excused.

Establishes collective bargaining rights for rideshare drivers to negotiate wages and working conditions with companies. Requires rideshare companies to share driver data quarterly with state labor board starting January 2026. Creates a process for driver organizations to become certified bargaining representatives through elections. Prohibits companies from interfering with driver organizing and mandates good-faith negotiations with certified groups.

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.

Requires a comprehensive study of economic opportunities along California's high-speed rail corridor by 2027. Mandates infrastructure districts to dedicate most revenue to local infrastructure projects. Explores funding options including federal grants, public-private partnerships, and development rights. Evaluates strategies to benefit communities through housing, commercial activity, and transportation services.

Restructures the transit board to require all seven directors be elected from specific wards instead of at-large positions. Establishes a $1,000 monthly director compensation that adjusts annually based on California Consumer Price Index. Requires directors to attend all regular board meetings to receive full monthly compensation. Allows candidates to submit 50 voter signatures or pay a $150 fee to run for director positions.

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 equal pay for all Air Resources Board members by removing compensation restrictions. Eliminates the $100 daily attendance payment for elected officials on the board. Requires air districts to reimburse their appointed board members for work-related expenses.

Authorizes employers to make retroactive wage payments to renewable energy workers to qualify for federal tax benefits. Protects employers from penalties when voluntarily increasing wages under the Inflation Reduction Act. Applies only to renewable energy projects started after January 1, 2023 and completed by December 31, 2024. Expires on January 1, 2029 unless extended by future legislation.

Establishes the East Bay Hills Conservation Program to protect 30,000 acres of natural habitat and recreation areas. Authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire land and implement conservation projects. Requires local governments to recognize the East Bay Hills as a statewide significant area by 2026. Mandates collaboration with Native American tribes on preservation and recreational initiatives.

Modernizes the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District board with alternate members and updated pay. Authorizes board members to receive up to $2,000 monthly for attending meetings and official business. Requires two board members to serve shorter two-year terms starting in 2029 to create staggered terms. Expands military liaison role beyond county supervisors to improve coordination with armed forces.

Authorizes water district board members to designate proxy voters when unable to attend meetings through 2030. Requires proxy authorizations to be submitted in writing one business day before board meetings. Limits proxy voting to six board meetings per calendar year for each representative. Applies all conflict of interest laws equally to both original representatives and their designated proxies.

Authorizes air pollution control district board members to receive up to $200 per day for official duties. Caps annual board member compensation at $7,200 with potential inflation-based increases starting 2026. Requires districts to report on how compensation affects board diversity and engagement within 3 years. Prevents board members from receiving duplicate compensation from multiple entities for the same work.

Establishes a pilot program allowing San Mateo Transit District to use job order contracting for repairs and maintenance. Limits individual job orders to $1 million and total contract awards to $5 million initially. Requires competitive bidding and compliance with prevailing wage laws and labor agreements. Expires on January 1, 2032 after requiring a program evaluation report to the Legislature.

Requires the High-Speed Rail Authority to submit a detailed funding plan for the Merced-Bakersfield segment by May 2026. Mandates identification of funding sources, timelines, and potential project delays for the rail segment. Requires assessment of funding risks and mitigation strategies for completing the rail segment. Establishes requirements for analyzing service options and costs for the Merced-Bakersfield route.

Extends the Green Empowerment Zone program in Contra Costa County through 2040 to promote renewable energy jobs. Expands the zone to include four additional cities while allowing jurisdictions to opt out with 60 days notice. Adds seven environmental justice representatives to the governing board to increase community input. Requires annual reporting on job creation, wages, grants, and workforce training starting July 2026.

Expands the LA Metro board from 14 to 18 members starting January 1, 2029. Adds the County Executive and three public appointees to the transportation board. Requires board restructuring within 60 days if county leadership changes. Maintains representation from cities based on four geographic sectors.

Establishes a new program within the Attorney General's office to build expertise in artificial intelligence. Requires the Attorney General to designate a specialized team for handling AI-related legal and policy issues. Mandates collaboration with academic institutions and civil rights organizations on AI system analysis. Requires annual public reports to the Legislature on AI developments starting July 2027.

Replaces the Mountain House Community Services District representative with a City of Mountain House representative on the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority governing board. Maintains the existing 15-member governing board structure overseeing rail connectivity between BART and Altamont Corridor Express services. Requires state reimbursement to the City of Mountain House for any costs associated with this new responsibility.

Establishes a new Transportation Revenue Measure District to fund Bay Area public transit operations. Authorizes a 0.5-1% sales tax in San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties subject to voter approval in 2026. Requires transit agencies to undergo financial efficiency reviews and meet performance standards to receive funding. Mandates that transit operators maintain existing funding levels and comply with regional management policies.