California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 544
Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Laird (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has the exclusive power to, among other things, determine and prescribe the manner and the terms of installation, operation, maintenance, use, and protection of railroad crossings. Existing law prohibits the construction of a public road, highway, or street across the track of any railroad corporation at grade and other specified actions with regard to railroad crossings without the permission of the commission.
This bill would require an application for a railroad crossing to include, at a minimum, certain information concerning the proposed railroad crossing. The bill would require the commission to adopt an expedited review and approval process for ratesetting proceedings for an exempt railroad crossing application, as defined. The bill also would require the commission, upon initiating a ratesetting proceeding, to determine whether the proceeding is for an exempt railroad crossing application, and if so, to issue a proposed resolution pursuant to the expedited review and approval process.
Text versions
- 10/01/25 - Chaptered· Oct 1, 2025
- 09/04/25 - Enrolled· Sep 4, 2025
- 07/14/25 - Amended Assembly· Jul 14, 2025
- 02/20/25 - Introduced· Feb 20, 2025
- SB544
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 Senate | Unfinished Business SB544 Laird Concurrence | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 28, 2025 House | SB 544 Laird Consent Calendar Second Day | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 20, 2025 House | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 9, 2025 House | Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 1, 2025 Senate | Consent Calendar 2nd | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 8, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 24, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Transportation] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Oct 1, 2025 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 224, Statutes of 2025. - Oct 1, 2025 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 9, 2025 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. - Sep 2, 2025 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2409.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Aug 28, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Aug 28, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate. - Aug 21, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. - Aug 20, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20). - Jul 14, 2025 · House
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 10, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (July 9). - Jun 25, 2025 · House
June 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. - May 19, 2025 · House
Referred to Com. on U. & E. - May 1, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - May 1, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 984.) Ordered to the Assembly. - Apr 29, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. - Apr 28, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar. - Apr 22, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 28. - Apr 21, 2025 · Senate
April 21 hearing postponed by committee. - Apr 10, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 21. - Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 710.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Mar 27, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 8. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 16. Noes 0. Page 512.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. - Mar 17, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing March 24. - Mar 5, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and TRANS. - Feb 21, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23. - Feb 20, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.