California 20252026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 D cosponsors

SB 445 — High-speed rail: third-party agreements, permits, and approvals: regulations.

Last action — August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 18, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Assembly.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

The California High-Speed Rail Act creates the High-Speed Rail Authority (authority) to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state, with specified powers and duties, including the power to enter into contracts, relocate highways and utilities, and enter into cooperative or joint development agreements with local governments or private entities, as specified. The act establishes legal procedures for the relocation of publicly and privately owned utility facilities, as defined, when the authority requires any utility to remove any utility facility lawfully maintained in the right-of-way of any high-speed rail property to a location entirely outside the high-speed rail property right-of-way subject to specified conditions. The act authorizes the authority and any utility to enter into a specified agreement or contract to remove or relocate any utility facility that provides for, among other things, the respective amounts of the cost to be borne by each party or that apportions the obligations and costs of each party. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority Office of the Inspector General (office) and authorizes the High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General (inspector general) to initiate an audit or review regarding oversight related to delivery of the high-speed rail project undertaken by the authority and the selection and oversight of contractors related to that project. Existing law requires the inspector general to submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor regarding its findings. This bill would require the authority, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt internal rules, as defined, setting forth standards and timelines for the authority to engage utilities to ensure coordination and cooperation in relocating utility infrastructure or otherwise resolving utility conflicts affecting the delivery of the high-speed rail project. The bill would require the authority to ensure that the internal rules, among other things, identify the circumstances under which the authority would be required seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with a utility that, where relevant, identifies who is responsible for specific utility relocations, as specified. This bill would require the authority, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt regulations setting forth requirements governing local agency permits and approvals that are necessary to deliver the high-speed rail project. The bill would require the authority to ensure that the regulations, among other things, identify the circumstances under which the authority would be required to seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with a local agency that, where relevant, identifies who is responsible for specific actions, as specified. This bill would require the authority to consult with specified entities in developing the internal rules and regulations and would require the authority to hold at least 2 public hearings regarding the proposed internal rules and regulations. This bill would delay the operation of these internal rules and regulations until the office determines that the authority has completed the development and implementation of a process to review third-party agreements in a timely manner as recommended by the office, as specified. The bill would require the office, beginning one year after the operative date of the internal rules and regulations, to conduct a review of the effectiveness of those rules and regulations and to make recommendations for their improvement. The bill would require the office, when it determines that the high-speed rail project is complete, to submit a report to the Legislature informing the Legislature of that fact. The bill would make the requirement to adopt these internal rules and regulations inoperative on the date that the office submits that report to the Legislature. This bill would require the authority and specified utilities to identify existing barriers and agree to preferred solutions to those barriers by December 31, 2026, to ensure utility relocations do not result in unnecessary or foreseeable project delays, as specified. This bill would declare its provisions to be severable. To the extent this bill imposes additional duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  2. August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  3. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (July 16).

  5. Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 49. Noes 15. Page 2578.)

  6. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  7. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  8. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  9. Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  10. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  11. Referred to Coms. on TRANS., L. GOV., and U. & E.

  12. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  13. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 1. Page 1296.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  15. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

  16. Set for hearing May 5.

  17. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  18. Withdrawn from committee.

  19. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 842.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  20. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  21. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  22. Set for hearing April 22.

  23. Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV.

  24. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.

  25. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 7 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 10 Yea · 4 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 10102
Republican 0302
Total 10404
% of votes cast 56%22%0%22%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Nay
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Not Voting
Kalra, Ash Democratic Not Voting
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay
Patterson, Joe Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay
Wallis, Greg Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]

Passed 8 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8000
Republican 0200
Total 8200
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

Passed 10 Yea · 3 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 10002
Republican 0301
Total 10303
% of votes cast 63%19%0%19%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Not Voting
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Not Voting
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Nay
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB445 Wiener et al.

Passed 34 Yea · 1 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 29001
Republican 5104
Total 34105
% of votes cast 85%3%0%13%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Not Voting
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Not Voting
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 2002
Total 13002
% of votes cast 87%0%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 445 do?
The California High-Speed Rail Act creates the High-Speed Rail Authority (authority) to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state, with specified powers and duties, including the power to enter into contracts, relocate highways and utilities, and enter into cooperative or joint development agreements with local governments or private entities, as specified. The act establishes legal procedures for the relocation of publicly and privately owned utility facilities, as defined, when the authority requires any utility to remove any utility facility lawfully maintained in the right-of-way of any high-speed rail property to a location entirely outside the high-speed rail property right-of-way subject to specified conditions. The act authorizes the authority and any utility to enter into a specified agreement or contract to remove or relocate any utility facility that provides for, among other things, the respective amounts of the cost to be borne by each party or that apportions the obligations and costs of each party. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority Office of the Inspector General (office) and authorizes the High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General (inspector general) to initiate an audit or review regarding oversight related to delivery of the high-speed rail project undertaken by the authority and the selection and oversight of contractors related to that project. Existing law requires the inspector general to submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor regarding its findings. This bill would require the authority, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt internal rules, as defined, setting forth standards and timelines for the authority to engage utilities to ensure coordination and cooperation in relocating utility infrastructure or otherwise resolving utility conflicts affecting the delivery of the high-speed rail project. The bill would require the authority to ensure that the internal rules, among other things, identify the circumstances under which the authority would be required seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with a utility that, where relevant, identifies who is responsible for specific utility relocations, as specified. This bill would require the authority, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop and adopt regulations setting forth requirements governing local agency permits and approvals that are necessary to deliver the high-speed rail project. The bill would require the authority to ensure that the regulations, among other things, identify the circumstances under which the authority would be required to seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with a local agency that, where relevant, identifies who is responsible for specific actions, as specified. This bill would require the authority to consult with specified entities in developing the internal rules and regulations and would require the authority to hold at least 2 public hearings regarding the proposed internal rules and regulations. This bill would delay the operation of these internal rules and regulations until the office determines that the authority has completed the development and implementation of a process to review third-party agreements in a timely manner as recommended by the office, as specified. The bill would require the office, beginning one year after the operative date of the internal rules and regulations, to conduct a review of the effectiveness of those rules and regulations and to make recommendations for their improvement. The bill would require the office, when it determines that the high-speed rail project is complete, to submit a report to the Legislature informing the Legislature of that fact. The bill would make the requirement to adopt these internal rules and regulations inoperative on the date that the office submits that report to the Legislature. This bill would require the authority and specified utilities to identify existing barriers and agree to preferred solutions to those barriers by December 31, 2026, to ensure utility relocations do not result in unnecessary or foreseeable project delays, as specified. This bill would declare its provisions to be severable. To the extent this bill imposes additional duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors SB 445?
SB 445 is sponsored by Wiener, Scott D. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 445?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 18, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 445?
Track SB 445 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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