AB-1913 • 2026

Licensure: emergency equipment.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Soria
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on what happens in case of failure during training or testing, leaving this as an open question.

Emergency Equipment Licensure

This bill updates the requirements for operating emergency equipment and mandates specific training for peace officers and volunteers.

What This Bill Does

Includes certain types of emergency vehicles under a class C driver’s license if they are owned by law enforcement agencies.
Requires peace officers and registered volunteers to complete specified training before operating emergency equipment.
Specifies that the training must include classroom learning, driving practice, and passing a written test.

Who It Names or Affects

People with class C driver’s licenses who want to operate emergency vehicles owned by law enforcement agencies.
Peace officers and volunteers registered with law enforcement agencies who need to drive emergency equipment.

Terms To Know

Emergency Equipment: A motor vehicle or combination of vehicles used for emergencies, such as police cars or ambulances, owned by a law enforcement agency.
Class C Driver’s License: A type of driver’s license that allows the holder to drive certain types of vehicles, including some emergency equipment if they have completed specific training.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone fails the written test or driving practice.
It is unclear how this will affect existing drivers who already operate emergency equipment without a class C license.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
2026-05-11 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 7).
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1913, as amended, Soria.
Licensure: emergency equipment.
Existing law prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle upon a highway unless that person holds a valid driver’s license to operate the type of vehicle that the person is driving.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to require an examination for issuance of a driver’s license. The examination is required to be appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles the applicant desires a license to drive or tow, in accordance with certain license classifications. A class C driver’s license includes the operation of, among other vehicles, firefighting equipment, provided that the equipment is operated by a person who holds a firefighter endorsement, as specified.
This bill would include the operation of specified emergency equipment under a class C driver’s license,
provided the equipment is owned by a law enforcement agency and is operated by a person who has completed the emergency equipment training described below.
Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to set minimum standards for the recruitment and training of peace officers and to develop training courses and curriculum.
This bill would require specified peace officers and volunteers registered with specified law enforcement agencies be permitted to operate emergency equipment, as specified. The bill would require the training to include both classroom and driver training components, as specified, and a written examination. The bill would impose certification, experience, and licensure requirements on instructors for the training program, including, among other things, a requirement that an instructor be certified as a qualified training instructor by the State of California, the federal
government, or a county training officers’ association.
The bill would define “emergency equipment” as a motor vehicle
operated under a class A or class B license
or combination of vehicles that meets the definition of a class A or class B vehicle and is subject to certain requirements, including, but not limited to,
that
is
they are
used to travel to and from the scene of an emergency situation, to and from a place where the emergency equipment is repaired or positioned, or to transport equipment used in the control of an emergency situation and that is owned, leased, rented by, or under
the exclusive control of specified law enforcement agencies.

Current Bill Text

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