KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to California

SB-1008 • 2026

California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ochoa Bogh
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Set for hearing April 27.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the public entities receiving notices of exemption.

California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption for Railroad Grade Crossing Closures

The bill creates an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for closing railroad grade crossings ordered closed by the Public Utilities Commission due to public safety concerns, but not for high-speed rail or projects by the High-Speed Rail Authority.

What This Bill Does

  • Exempts the closure of certain railroad grade crossings from CEQA if they are ordered closed by the Public Utilities Commission due to public safety concerns.
  • Requires the lead agency to file a notice of exemption with specified public entities when closing these crossings.
  • Does not apply this exemption to high-speed rail or projects by the High-Speed Rail Authority.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Lead agencies responsible for closing railroad grade crossings ordered closed by the Public Utilities Commission due to safety concerns.
  • Public entities receiving notices of exemption.
  • High-speed rail projects and those by the High-Speed Rail Authority.

Terms To Know

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
A law that requires government agencies to consider environmental impacts before approving or carrying out projects.
Lead agency
The main government body responsible for making decisions about a project and ensuring it follows CEQA rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact public entities that must receive notices of exemption.
  • Only applies to certain types of railroad grade crossing closures, excluding high-speed rail projects.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 27.

  2. 2026-04-14 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  3. 2026-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 13.

  4. 2026-03-18 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E., U & C. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3600.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.

  5. 2026-02-25 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing March 18.

  6. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and E., U & C.

  7. 2026-02-10 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12.

  8. 2026-02-09 California Legislative Information

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

Official Summary Text

SB 1008, as introduced, Ochoa Bogh.
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts certain projects from its requirements and authorizes a lead agency, if it determines a certain project is exempt from CEQA, to file a notice of exemption, as provided.
This bill would exempt from CEQA the closure of a railroad grade crossing by order of the Public Utilities Commission if the commission finds the crossing to present a threat to public safety. The bill would provide that the exemption is inapplicable to any crossing for high-speed rail or any crossing for a project carried out by the High-Speed Rail Authority. The bill would require the lead agency to file the notice of exemption with specified public entities, as provided. Because the bill would impose additional duties on lead agencies with regards to the filing of the notice of exemption, this 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.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF