CaliforniaLow Carbon Transit Operations Program.
What it does
Existing law creates the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and improve mobility. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to administer the program and to adopt guidelines, in coordination with the State Air Resources Board, that describe the methodologies to be used by a recipient transit agency to demonstrate that proposed expenditures will meet specified program expenditure requirements and establish the reporting requirements for documenting ongoing compliance with those expenditure requirements.
More detail
This bill would repeal the requirement for the department to adopt guidelines.
Existing law continuously appropriates a specified amount of money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the program and requires the Controller to allocate those moneys according to the requirements of the program. Existing law requires a recipient transit agency to demonstrate that expenditures of program moneys allocated to the agency reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and do not supplant other sources of funds. Existing law requires moneys for the program to be expended to provide transit operating or capital assistance that directly enhances or expands transit services, increases transit mode share, or is related to the purchase of zero-emission buses, as specified. Before seeking a disbursement of funds pursuant to the program, existing law requires a recipient transit agency to submit to the department a list of proposed expense types and documentation required by the guidelines that demonstrates compliance with the above-described expenditure requirements. For capital projects funded by the program, existing law requires a transit agency to specify the phases of work for which an allocation of program moneys is sought, identify sources and timing of all moneys required for those phases of work, and describe intended sources and timing of funding for subsequent phases of work, as provided. Existing law requires a recipient transit agency to provide an annual report to the department, as provided. Existing law requires the department and a recipient transit agency to comply with guidelines developed by the State Air Resources Board to ensure that the requirements of a certain investment plan are met to maximize the benefits to disadvantaged communities, as provided.
This bill would revise and recast the program to, among other things, require program funds to be expended only on maintenance or expansion of bus, rail, or ferry services, transit fare subsidies, and network and fare integration technology improvements. By altering the permissible uses for which continuously appropriated funds may be used, the bill would make an appropriation. Before receiving program funds, the bill would require a recipient transit agency to submit to the department a list of services or programs to be funded by those funds, as specified. The bill would require the department to report to the Controller the recipient transit agencies that have submitted the list, and would, upon receipt of the report from the department, require the Controller to allocate program funds. The bill would require a recipient transit agency to report to the department on the expenditure of program funds, as specified.
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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 18Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 247, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 18Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 8Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 30Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB741 Blakespear Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 27From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 6047.)Minor
- Vote recorded That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on TRANS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 5823.) Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Aug 26Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).Minor
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 741 Blakespear Senate Third Reading By Schultz. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6525.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 1Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 29).Major
- Jun 29
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 11Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jun 8From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Major
- 2025
- Jul 3July 7 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 5Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- May 28In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1240.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 5From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Apr 25Set for hearing May 5.
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 839.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Major
- Apr 4Set for hearing April 22.
- Mar 12Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 24From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced