SB-1382 • 2026

Department of Transportation: mountain passes: openings.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Alvarado-Gil
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Set for hearing April 27.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and digest do not provide details about penalties for non-compliance or funding specifics, leaving these points as unknowns.

Department of Transportation: Opening Mountain Passes

This law requires the Department of Transportation to open all mountain passes by May 1 each year and informs local officials and the public about plans for opening these roads.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Transportation to ensure that all mountain passes are open for operation by May 1 every year.
If it is projected that it's not feasible to open a pass by May 1, the department must publish on its website a notice explaining which passes won't be opened and why, by April 1 each year.
The department needs to notify local officials about their plans to open mountain passes by April 1 each year.
The department has to develop a public outreach plan to inform people when mountain passes will close or reopen.

Who It Names or Affects

Department of Transportation
Local officials in areas with mountain passes
People who use mountain passes

Terms To Know

Mountain Passes: High points on roads that go over mountains.
Department of Transportation: The government agency in charge of building and maintaining roads, bridges, and other transportation systems.

Limits and Unknowns

It's not clear what happens if the department doesn't follow these rules.
The bill does not specify how much money will be given to open mountain passes on time.

Bill History

2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 27.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1382, as amended, Alvarado-Gil.
Department of Transportation: mountain passes: openings.
Existing law vests the Department of Transportation with possession and control of all state highways. Existing law requires the department, on or before July 1, 1992, to adopt and implement a deicing policy for state highways, as specified. Existing law specifically requires the department to remove snow from a specified portion of Interstate Route 80, as specified.
This bill would require the department to ensure that all mountain passes under its control are open for operation by May 1 of each year. If it is projected that it is not feasible for the department to meet that requirement, the bill would require the department to publish on its internet website a written notice of which mountain passes it will not be able to open, including the documented causes, by April 1 of each year.
This bill would require, on or before April 1 of each year, the department, to the extent feasible, to notify an affected local official of the department’s proposed schedule for opening a mountain pass, as defined. The bill would require the department to develop a public outreach plan to inform the public about the closing and opening of a mountain pass, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF