CaliforniaVehicles: off-highway motor vehicles.
What it does
Existing law regulates the operation of recreational off-highway motor vehicles on lands, other than a highway, that are open and accessible to the public. Existing law generally prohibits a motor vehicle from being driven upon a highway unless it is registered. However, existing law authorizes off-highway motor vehicles that are issued identification plates or devices to cross highways in certain situations, including, among others, a peace officer operating an off-highway motor vehicle in an emergency response situation.
More detail
This bill would expand the above-described provision to additionally authorize first responders, as defined, to operate off-highway motor vehicles in an emergency response situation. The bill would also authorize peace officers and first responders to operate off-highway motor vehicles upon a highway, at a distance not to exceed 5 miles, for the purpose of accessing off-highway recreational areas or locations of patrol, within jurisdictions that have adopted a policy or plan for the operation of those off-highway motor vehicles pursuant to the provisions described below. The bill would require peace officers and first responders operating off-highway motor vehicles pursuant to these provisions to comply with the terms and requirements of the policy or plan adopted by the applicable local authority.
Existing law prohibits a local authority from enacting or enforcing an ordinance on matters covered by the Vehicle Code unless expressly authorized by the Vehicle Code. Existing law authorizes local authorities to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution regarding specified matters.
This bill would authorize a local authority to regulate the operation of off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification by peace officers and first responders upon highways within the local authority's jurisdiction while performing official duties subject to specified requirements. Among those requirements, the bill would require a local authority, after public review, to adopt a policy or plan for the operation of off-highway motor vehicles by peace officers and first responders while performing official duties and to make the policy or plan available to the public on its internet website. The bill would also require the policy or plan to include, among other things, a requirement that off-highway motor vehicles may only be operated upon a highway for up to 5 miles for the purpose of accessing an off-highway recreational area or a location of patrol.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 20Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 400, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 20Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 20Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 13Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6140.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2453 Michelle Rodriguez Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 11In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 10Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5324.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd AB2453 Michelle Rodriguez. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 9From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources and Water]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Major
- May 20Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and N.R. & W.Minor
- May 7In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2453 Michelle Rodriguez Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 0. Page 4967.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 30Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 6Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced