Bill Text: CA SB400 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 400

Introduced

Bill Title: High-Speed Rail Authority.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17. [SB400 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB400-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 400

Introduced by Senator Cortese

February 14, 2025

An act to amend Section 185034 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 400, as introduced, Cortese. High-Speed Rail Authority.

The California High-Speed Rail Act creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed train system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law authorizes the authority, among other things, to keep the public informed of its activities.

This bill would revise that provision to instead authorize the authority to keep the public informed through activities, including, but not limited to, community outreach events, public information workshops, and newsletters posted on the authority’s internet website.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 185034 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

185034.

The authority may do any of the following:

(1) Conduct engineering and other studies related to the selection and acquisition of rights-of-way and the selection of a franchisee, including, but not limited to, environmental impact studies, socioeconomic impact studies, and financial feasibility studies.

(2) Evaluate alternative high-speed rail technologies, ~~systems~~ systems, and operators, and select an appropriate high-speed rail system.

(3) Establish criteria for the award of a franchise.

(4) Accept grants, fees, and allocations from the state, from political subdivisions of the state or from the federal government, foreign governments, and private sources.

(5) Select a proposed franchisee, a proposed route, and proposed terminal sites.

(6) Enter into contracts with public and private entities for the preparation of the plan.

(7) Prepare a detailed financing plan, including any necessary taxes, fees, or bonds to pay for the construction of the high-speed train network.

(8) Develop a proposed high-speed rail financial plan, including necessary taxes, bonds, or both, or other indebtedness, and submit the plan to the Legislature and to the Governor.

(9) Keep the public informed ~~of its activities.~~ through activities, including, but not limited to, community outreach events, public information workshops, and newsletters posted on the authority’s internet website.