Bill > SB1256

This bill exempts the closure of railroad grade crossings from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which is a state law requiring government agencies to review and disclose the potential environmental impacts of projects before they are approved. Specifically, if the Public Utilities Commission, a state agency that regulates utilities, orders a railroad crossing to be closed because it poses a threat to public safety, this action will not require a CEQA review. However, this exemption does not apply to crossings related to high-speed rail projects or projects undertaken by the High-Speed Rail Authority. The bill also requires the agency closing the crossing to file a notice of this exemption with certain public entities, which is considered a state-mandated local program, though no reimbursement is required for local agencies as they can cover these costs through existing fees.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1256