Bill > SB741

This bill amends the California Coastal Act to expand an existing exemption for emergency coastal development permits, specifically for the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor. Currently, the law allows public agencies to perform emergency repairs on existing highways without obtaining a coastal development permit. This bill adds existing railroad tracks along the specified rail corridor to that exemption, allowing public agencies to quickly maintain, repair, or restore railroad infrastructure in the coastal zone without going through the typical permit process. The exemption applies only within the existing railroad right-of-way and for damage caused by natural events like fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, or land movements, and must be completed within one year of the damage. The bill specifically excludes projects that would expand or widen railroad facilities or alter natural shoreline processes. The Legislature justifies this special statute by citing the corridor's economic importance for passenger and freight transportation and the need to minimize service disruptions while maintaining public access to the shoreline. This change aims to streamline emergency repairs for critical rail infrastructure in coastal areas.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB741