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 district board to seven ward-based directors, eliminating at-large positions. Allows candidates to submit a $150 filing fee instead of collecting 50 voter signatures for nomination. Adjusts director compensation based on annual Consumer Price Index changes at start of fiscal year. Requires directors to attend all monthly board meetings to receive their full $1,000 monthly stipend.

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 incentives. Protects employers from penalties when voluntarily increasing worker pay to meet prevailing wage requirements. Applies only to renewable energy projects started after January 2023 and completed by December 2024. Expires on January 1, 2029 and excludes claims related to worker discrimination or misclassification.

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.

Establishes new governance rules for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District's 11-member board. Creates a population-based weighted voting system to resolve tie votes in member selection. Authorizes the appointment of alternate board members to serve during regular member absences. Requires two-year terms instead of four years for certain board members appointed in 2029.

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.

Establishes compensation of up to $200 per day for county air pollution control district board members. Limits annual board member compensation to $7,200 with potential increases based on inflation. Provides reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred during official board duties. Prohibits members from receiving duplicate compensation or reimbursement from other entities.

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 an updated estimate of funding gaps and specific strategies to address financial shortfalls. Requires a timeline showing when each funding source must be secured to meet completion deadlines. Establishes requirements for analyzing potential project delays and mitigation strategies if funding falls short.

Extends and expands the Contra Costa Green Empowerment Zone through 2040 to promote renewable energy development. Adds four new cities to the zone and allows jurisdictions to withdraw with 60 days notice. Restructures the governing board to include environmental justice representatives and additional stakeholders. Requires annual reporting on jobs, 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 Bay Area transportation district to fund public transit through a retail sales tax of 0.5-1%. Requires voter approval in November 2026 for a 10-15 year tax measure across three Bay Area counties. Mandates independent financial reviews of major transit operators to identify cost-saving opportunities. Allocates tax revenue to transit operations and requires agencies to maintain current funding levels.