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California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill

SB 544: Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 544 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 20, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Railroad crossings: permit applications: review. Primary sponsor: John Laird (D). Most recent recorded action (October 1, 2025): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

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

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
John LairdPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate17

“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. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025.
  2. Approved by the Governor.
  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2409.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
  6. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
  7. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
  8. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
  9. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  10. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9).
  11. June 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
  12. Referred to Com. on U. & E.

Sources

  1. California Legislative Information — pubinfo database export
  2. Official bill page