SB 1008: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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 a lead agency with regard to the filing of the notice of exemption, the 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 151, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 18, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 13, 2026In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 13, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6158.) Ordered to the Senate.
6. August 6, 2026Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
7. August 5, 2026From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
8. June 25, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. June 9, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
10. May 18, 2026Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and U. & E.
11. April 30, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
12. April 30, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4114.) Ordered to the Assembly.