CaliforniaTransportation department must study navigation apps’ road impacts
California’s transportation department must study how third-party navigation apps affect highways and local roads, then report findings and policy recommendations to lawmakers by January 1, 2029.
What it does
California’s transportation department must study how third-party navigation apps affect highway congestion, local roads, traffic safety, and emergency response.
By January 1, 2029, the department must give lawmakers the study and policy recommendations; the bill does not itself impose new rules on navigation apps.
Argument forThe study could help state and local officials identify when navigation apps shift traffic onto local roads and slow emergency responses.
Argument againstThe measure may produce recommendations without changing navigation-app practices, because data sharing and local-rule requirements would still need later action.
More detail
The Department of Transportation must conduct a pilot study of third-party navigation applications. The study covers a region or area chosen by the department and examines effects on the state highway system and local streets and roads. The department must consult with the Transportation Agency and relevant regional and local authorities. The study must examine shifted congestion, local road and maintenance effects, traffic safety, and emergency response times. The study requirement applies until the section is repealed on January 1, 2033.
The Department of Transportation must submit the study and a related policy report to the Legislature. The report goes to the Legislature’s relevant fiscal and policy committees and must recommend possible regulatory or legislative steps to better match navigation apps with traffic-management goals. The recommendations may address data sharing, respect for local traffic rules, and technology that favors safety and lower emissions over small time savings. The submission must follow the state reporting requirements in Government Code Section 9795. The department must submit the study and report on or before January 1, 2029; the authorizing section is repealed on January 1, 2033.
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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 14Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 207, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 8Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 28Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 61. Noes 12. Page 6813.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2015 Wicks Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 27In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2015 Wicks By Arreguín. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.).Passed Senate
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Jun 1In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 15. Page 5524.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2015 Wicks Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
- May 13In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 21From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 20
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Apr 14From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 8In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 23Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Mar 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 19Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
- Feb 17Read first time. To print.Introduced
TransportationPublic SafetyEmergency Management