CaliforniaCalifornia Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.
What it does
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.
More detail
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.
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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
- Aug 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 151, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Aug 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 18Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 13In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded SB 1008 Ochoa Bogh Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6158.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25From 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.Minor
- Jun 24
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9From 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.Minor
- Jun 8
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and U. & E.Minor
- Apr 30In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd SB1008 Ochoa Bogh Urgency Clause. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 30Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4114.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Apr 28Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Apr 27From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.Minor
- Apr 17Set for hearing April 27.
- Apr 14From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0. Page 3842.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 2Set for hearing April 13.
- Mar 18From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E., U & C. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3600.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Energy, Utilities and Communications]. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Set for hearing March 18.
- Feb 18Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and E., U & C.Minor
- Feb 10From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12.
- Feb 9Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced