All Roll Calls
Yes: 215 • No: 0
CaliforniaSB 5442025-2026 Regular SessionSenate
Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.
Sponsored By: John Laird (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Stricter rules on private contacts
The commission tightens ex parte rules to protect fairness. It must define decisionmakers and interested persons, and ban one‑way contacts from decisionmakers and talks about who will be assigned to a case. Ex parte contacts are banned in adjudication cases. In ratesetting or wildfire cases, any ex parte must be reported within three working days, and decisionmakers must log it. The commission cannot vote until parties can respond to a prohibited contact, and it must decide any petition to rescind or change a decision due to undisclosed ex parte within 180 days. These rules also cover private talks at conferences. Ex parte contacts are not evidence; decisions must rely on the record.
Faster approvals for simple rail crossings
The commission creates a fast‑track for certain crossing applications. An application is exempt only if it shows clear public benefit, has no valid protest, and needs no evidentiary hearing. The commission must adopt this process at a public voting meeting after taking stakeholder and public input. The process must include public notice and service to railroads, transit agencies, and local authorities, and put proposed approvals on the public voting agenda. Exempt cases skip assigning commissioners, the prehearing conference, and the scoping memo.
Short window to contest case type
You have 10 days to ask the commission to rehear how a case is categorized. Only parties who ask in time keep standing to seek court review, which is available at the end of the case. The commission must decide rehearing requests within 30 days. The commission must also set rules for ex parte contacts about case categorization.
Standard documents for rail crossing permits
If you apply for a railroad crossing, you must submit more detailed materials. File a location description and scaled plans. Include a map at 1,000 to 3,000 feet per inch showing nearby roads and rail lines. Add a profile with ground and grade lines and approach grades. Attach any franchise or permit and required safety details, plus any other information the commission requires. The commission uses these materials to review the project.
Public comments added; limited closed sessions
The commission must place written public comments in the record, but they are not evidence. Parties get a reasonable chance to respond to any public comments. The commission may meet in closed session for administrative matters only, with no votes or collective decisions. It must publish a rule that defines "administrative matters."
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John Laird
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/2/2025
Item 175 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 40 • No: 0
House vote • 8/28/2025
Item 146 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 74 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/20/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 15 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/9/2025
Vote in CX23
Yes: 18 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/1/2025
Item 142 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 37 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/8/2025
Vote in CS59
Yes: 15 • No: 0
legislature vote • 3/24/2025
Vote in CS71
Yes: 16 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025.
10/1/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/1/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
9/9/2025legislatureAssembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2409.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9/2/2025SenateIn Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8/28/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
8/28/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
8/21/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
8/20/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/14/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9).
7/10/2025HouseJune 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
6/25/2025HouseReferred to Com. on U. & E.
5/19/2025HouseIn Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
5/1/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 984.) Ordered to the Assembly.
5/1/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
4/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
4/28/2025SenateSet for hearing April 28.
4/22/2025SenateApril 21 hearing postponed by committee.
4/21/2025SenateSet for hearing April 21.
4/10/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 710.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4/9/2025SenateSet for hearing April 8.
3/27/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 16. Noes 0. Page 512.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
3/25/2025SenateSet for hearing March 24.
3/17/2025SenateReferred to Coms. on E., U & C. and TRANS.
3/5/2025SenateFrom printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2/21/2025Senate
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/1/2025
Enrolled
9/4/2025
Amended Assembly
7/14/2025
Introduced
2/20/2025