CaliforniaRail authority would require permits and penalize harmful work
The High-Speed Rail Authority would require permits for certain work on rail property and could penalize people who damage the system or put it at risk.
What it does
The authority would require permits for certain installations and work on property used to build, operate, or maintain high-speed rail. The rule applies to new installations and qualifying work.
People who install or carry out covered work on rail property without a required permit could face a misdemeanor charge. Emergency entry has a narrow safety exception.
People could owe repair costs and penalties for specified harmful water flows or tree damage on rail property. Willfully damaging the system or property would be a misdemeanor.
Permit fees and penalty money would go into a state fund. The authority could use the money for rail work or permit administration only if the Legislature appropriates it.
Argument forPermit reviews and removal powers could help the authority protect rail operations and address property that threatens passenger or worker safety.
Argument againstPeople doing work near rail property could face criminal charges or large daily or per-tree penalties, even when damage or danger is disputed.
More detail
The High-Speed Rail Authority would require permits for certain work or installations on its operating property. The property includes rail corridor land and related facilities needed to build, operate, or maintain the system; other authority-owned property is excluded. An encroachment includes an object, activity, or access on, under, or over that property. A permit must be consistent with rail operations, maintenance, safety, and security. Existing protected agreements keep their rights and permit procedures; if they have no permit procedure, this chapter applies. Permit rules apply only to installations made on or after January 1, 2027, and work needed for those installations or to repair, maintain, expand, or relocate existing crossings or structures.
A person who installs or performs a covered encroachment without a permit would commit a misdemeanor. This covers any person who installs or performs a qualifying encroachment on the authority’s operating right-of-way. The permit requirement applies only to qualifying installations and work; emergency entry may occur when reasonably necessary to address an emergency and does not further impede public safety. Prior express authority consent is generally required to enter the operating right-of-way. The permit requirement applies to installations made on or after January 1, 2027, and the specified work tied to them.
The authority or Attorney General could seek civil penalties for specified encroachments, water-related damage, and tree damage; willful damage would be a misdemeanor. The rules cover people whose actions damage the train system or its operating property, including specified water practices and damage to shrubs or trees there. Water drainage, obstruction, or overflow is prohibited when it causes the specified damage or safety or operating problems, unless authorized by law or permit. Tree penalties apply to each shrub or tree damaged without an authority permit; repair costs may also be sought. For continued water problems after notice, the authority or Attorney General could seek a $5,000 daily penalty. Removing certain encroachments can also trigger $5,000 daily penalties after the applicable response period.
Permit fees and recovered money would go into the High-Speed Rail Property Fund, with spending available only after legislative appropriation. This covers money collected under the new chapter, including permit fees and civil penalties. Penalty money may be used for rail system development, improvement, and maintenance; fee revenue may be used to administer the permit program. Reasonable attorney fees and costs go to the agency that recovered them. The money becomes available to the authority only upon legislative appropriation.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 713, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 9. Page 5919.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1425 Cortese Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1425 Cortese Senate Third Reading By Kalra. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 53. Noes 16. Page 6500.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 21Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 24Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.Major
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (June 23).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jun 22
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 18Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
- Jun 15Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
- Jun 4Referred to Coms. on TRANS., JUD., and U. & E.Minor
- May 20In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 19Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 4360.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 4276.) (May 14).Major
- May 12Set for hearing May 14.
- May 11May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Set for hearing May 11.
- May 4May 4 hearing postponed by committee.
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1. Page 3981.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16Set for hearing April 21.
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 2. Page 3874.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 14.
- Apr 8Re-referred to Coms. on TRANS. and JUD.Minor
- Mar 25From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Mar 4Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 23Read first time.Minor
- Feb 23From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
- Feb 20Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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