SB-544 • 2026

Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Laird
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about penalties or consequences for non-compliance with new requirements.

Railroad Crossings: Permit Applications

This law requires applications for new railroad crossings to include specific information and sets up a faster review process for certain types of crossing requests.

What This Bill Does

Requires an application for a new railroad crossing to include specific details about the proposed crossing.
Establishes an expedited review and approval process for ratesetting proceedings related to exempt railroad crossing applications.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to build new railroad crossings
The Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

Exempt Railroad Crossing Application: A type of application for a railroad crossing that qualifies for an expedited review process by the Public Utilities Commission.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an applicant fails to provide all required information in their application.
It is unclear how many applications will qualify as 'exempt' and benefit from the expedited process.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2409.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
2025-07-14 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9).
2025-06-25 California Legislative Information
June 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-05-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 984.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 28.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
April 21 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 710.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 16. Noes 0. Page 512.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 24.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and TRANS.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 544, Laird.
Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has the exclusive power to, among other things, determine and prescribe the manner and the terms of installation, operation, maintenance, use, and protection of railroad crossings. Existing law prohibits the construction of a public road, highway, or street across the track of any railroad corporation at grade and other specified actions with regard to railroad crossings without the permission of the commission.
This bill would require an application for a railroad crossing to include, at a minimum, certain information concerning the proposed railroad crossing. The bill would require the commission to adopt an expedited review and approval process for ratesetting proceedings for an exempt railroad crossing application, as defined. The bill also would require the commission, upon initiating a ratesetting proceeding, to determine whether the proceeding is for an exempt railroad crossing application, and if so, to issue a proposed resolution pursuant to the expedited review and approval process.

Current Bill Text

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