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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 1008

California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

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. 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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 13, 2026
House		SB 1008 Ochoa Bogh Consent Calendar Second DaypassSet your home in California to see
Aug 5, 2026
House		Do pass. To Consent Calendar.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 24, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
Jun 8, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy] with recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 30, 2026
Senate		Consent Calendar 2nd SB1008 Ochoa Bogh Urgency ClausepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 13, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
Mar 18, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Energy, Utilities and Communications]passSet your home in California to see

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