Plain English Breakdown
The bill was vetoed; its legal status depends on whether a legislative override occurred after January 22, 2026.
State Highway Encroachment Costs in Mendocino County
This proposed law would require the Department of Transportation to pay for moving utility lines near state highways for small public utility districts in Mendocino County until January 1, 2031.
What This Bill Does
- Exempts specific public utility districts from paying the full cost of moving their facilities when highway improvements happen.
- Requires the Department of Transportation to pay all costs to relocate or remove these encroachments instead of the utility district if future highway improvements require it.
- Mandates that the department notify the utility district at each stage of a project requiring relocation.
Who It Names or Affects
- Public utility districts in Mendocino County with a ratepayer base of 5,000 households or fewer.
- The California Department of Transportation regarding its payment and notification duties for these specific projects.
Limits and Unknowns
- This rule would only apply until January 1, 2031.
- This proposal does not apply to utility districts with more than 5,000 households or outside Mendocino County.
- The governor vetoed this bill, so it did not become law unless lawmakers overrode the veto.