20250SB__100899INT INTRODUCED 2026-02-09 2025 SB INT Introduced by Senator Ochoa Bogh LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Ochoa Bogh

An act to add

Section 21080.14 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. environmental quality, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

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 lead agencies with regards to the filing of the notice of exemption, this 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.

TWO_THIRDS NO YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 21080.14 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read: 21080.14. (

a) This division does not apply to the closure of a railroad grade crossing by order of the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to

Chapter 6 (commencing with

Section 1201) of Part of Division of the Public Utilities Code, if the Public Utilities Commission finds the crossing to present a threat to public safety. (

b) This

section does not apply to any crossing for high-speed rail, as defined in

Section of the Public Utilities Code, or any crossing for a project carried out by the High-Speed Rail Authority, as described in

Section of the Public Utilities Code, or a successor agency. (c)

(1) Whenever a state agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it approves or determines to carry out the project, the state agency shall file a notice with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation in the manner specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (

d) of

Section 21108.

(2) Whenever a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it approves or determines to carry out the project, the local agency shall file a notice with the State Clearinghouse in the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and with the county clerk in each county in which the project will be located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (

d) of

Section 21152.

SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of

Section of the Government Code.

SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of

Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to continue to protect public safety, and to allow local agencies the time needed to make long-term planning decisions, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.