SB-30 • 2026

Diesel-powered on-track equipment: decommissioning: resale and transfer restrictions.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Cortese
Last action: 2025-10-13
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 735, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Diesel-Powered Train Equipment: No Sale After Decommissioning

This law stops public transit agencies from selling or giving away old diesel-powered train equipment after they stop using it, unless the equipment meets certain clean air standards or has its engine removed.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits a public entity that owns diesel-powered on-track equipment from selling, donating, or transferring ownership of that equipment for continued use after decommissioning.
Exempts sale, donation, or transfer if the equipment meets federal emissions standards for locomotives or produces similar low-emission levels.
Permits an exception when the diesel engine is removed from the equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

Public transit agencies that own and operate diesel-powered on-track equipment.
People who might want to buy, donate, or receive ownership of decommissioned diesel-powered train equipment.

Terms To Know

Decommissioning: The process of officially ending the use of a piece of equipment and preparing it for disposal or reuse.
Emissions standards: Rules set by the government that limit how much pollution can be released into the air from machines like engines.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone tries to sell or transfer equipment without following these rules.
It is unclear whether there are penalties for breaking this law.

Bill History

2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 735, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-17 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-10 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2836.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 53. Noes 22. Page 3092.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 20).
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 5.) (July 14).
2025-06-26 California Legislative Information
July 7 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1297.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2025-05-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 19.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 962.) (April 30).
2025-04-11 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 30.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 11. Noes 3. Page 710.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on TRANS. and E.Q.
2025-02-11 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-01-29 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 30, Cortese.
Diesel-powered on-track equipment: decommissioning: resale and transfer restrictions.
Existing law provides various provisions applicable to all public transit and transit districts and includes specific requirements applicable to public entities that operate commuter rail or rail transit systems.
This bill would prohibit a public entity that owns diesel-powered on-track equipment from selling, donating, or otherwise transferring ownership of that equipment for continued use after the public entity decommissions the equipment. The bill would exempt the sale, donation, or transfer of the ownership of that equipment from the prohibition if
the equipment is deemed to be in one of specified categories of emissions standards designated by the federal government for locomotives, the equipment produces emissions equivalent to any equipment within any of those federal categories, or the diesel engine is removed from the equipment, as specified.

Current Bill Text

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