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AB-438 • 2026

Authorized emergency vehicles.

Authorized emergency vehicles.

Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hadwick
Last action
2025-10-01
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 152, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the consequences if a vehicle is used outside disaster situations.

Authorized Emergency Vehicles

This law allows the California Highway Patrol Commissioner to issue emergency vehicle permits to vehicles owned by county, city, or city and county offices of emergency services when used by public employees during disasters.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to issue emergency vehicle permits to specific government office vehicles.
  • Limits permit issuance to times when these vehicles are being used by public employees for disaster response.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol
  • Vehicles owned by county, city, or city and county offices of emergency services
  • Public employees working in disaster response

Terms To Know

Emergency vehicle permit
A special permission that allows certain vehicles to have priority on the roads during emergencies.
Disaster
An event, such as a natural disaster or other major incident, requiring immediate action to protect life and property.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies when vehicles are being used by public employees for disaster response.
  • It does not specify what happens if the vehicle is used outside of disaster situations.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 152, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-04 California Legislative Information

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2902.).

  5. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2412.).

  7. 2025-06-24 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-06-23 California Legislative Information

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

  9. 2025-06-10 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  11. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  12. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  13. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1569.)

  14. 2025-05-08 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  15. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 7).

  16. 2025-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  17. 2025-04-08 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  18. 2025-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.

  19. 2025-03-13 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  20. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.

  21. 2025-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  22. 2025-02-07 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.

  23. 2025-02-06 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 438, Hadwick.
Authorized emergency vehicles.
Existing law authorizes the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to issue authorized emergency vehicle permits for certain vehicles, including any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility and any vehicle owned and operated by a fire company, as specified, upon a finding that the vehicle is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement, the immediate preservation of life or property, or the apprehension of law violators.
This bill would authorize the commissioner to issue an emergency vehicle permit to any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee who is employed by the office in responding to any
disaster.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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