Bill > SB695

This bill requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in consultation with the California Transportation Commission and Transportation Agency, to create an annual prioritized list of transportation infrastructure projects of statewide and regional significance that will enhance climate resilience. A "project of statewide and regional significance" is defined as a high-priority highway project serving two or more counties that improves public safety, supports economic growth, and/or mitigates climate-related infrastructure vulnerabilities. The bill prioritizes projects that offer multiple co-benefits such as enhanced safety, efficient goods movement, climate resiliency (including water storage and flood mitigation), and improved electrical grid infrastructure. Starting July 1, 2026, Caltrans must compile this list, focusing on projects already in the planning or approval stages, and must submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing these prioritized projects. The bill also includes legislative findings highlighting California's aging infrastructure's vulnerability to climate-related disasters and the potential economic and safety risks of not proactively investing in infrastructure resilience. The underlying goal is to strategically prepare transportation infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and reduce long-term repair and replacement costs.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB695