SB 545: High-speed rail: economic opportunities.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority, with specified powers and duties related to the development and implementation of a high-speed train system.

This bill would require the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, on or before January 1, 2027, to commission a study on economic opportunities along the corridor of the California high-speed rail project, as defined, and other high-speed rail projects in California that are planned to directly connect to the California high-speed rail project, as provided, and to submit a progress report to the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Transportation and the Assembly Committee on Transportation for input. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2028, the study to be completed and a report on the study’s findings and recommendations to be submitted to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature. The bill would require an infrastructure district, as defined, that uses its revenue to finance the construction of the high-speed rail project to dedicate a majority of its revenue to infrastructure projects within the jurisdiction of the local agencies that establish the district.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

“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 29, 2025August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
3. July 17, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. July 8, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
5. July 8, 2025Coauthors revised.
6. June 27, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
7. June 9, 2025Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV.
8. June 3, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
9. June 2, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 9. Page 1375.) Ordered to the Assembly.
10. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
12. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1203.) (May 23).