State Capitol Updates
Streetsblog California
CA Legislature Passes Cap & Trade Bill; Questions Remain
California reauthorized its cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It's a landmark victory and a rare bipartisan accord; it brings some certainty to California climate change policy-- and it leaves a lot of open questions.
July 18, 2017
Cap-and-Trade Extension: It’s a Compromise, But It’s What We Got
Many of the bill’s opponents at this hearing agree that there is no time to waste. They have been arguing that cap-and-trade is not working as intended—that its emission reductions are inadequate, and that in some cases the program has led to an increase in local emissions of other harmful pollutants by allowing industries to buy their way out of cleaning up their practices.
July 14, 2017
Vote on Cap-and-Trade Bills Postponed to “Allow Discussion”
Governor Brown is pushing hard to pass two bills that would reauthorize California's cap-and-trade system, but proponents of strong climate change policies say that the legislative package could seriously undermine those efforts.
July 12, 2017
Help Ensure that S.B. 1 Tax Money Is Wisely Spent
While there is a push to make quick decisions and get projects on the ground fast, there is also counter pressure to take enough time to get these decisions right. There won't be another opportunity to raise money for transportation any time soon.
July 11, 2017
Legislative Update: Greenhouse Gas Targets, Rolling Turns, Fare Evasion, Disabled Placards, BART Housing
The Assembly Transportation Committee heard and passed along several bills this week.
June 28, 2017
Legislative Update: CTC Representation, Youth Transit Passes, GHG Emissions
As Friday's deadline approaches for bills to either be passed from their legislative house of origin or die, the halls of the capitol in Sacramento are getting hectic. Here is some of what has transpired in relation to sustainable transportation issues:
June 1, 2017
Ped Crossing Bill Moves Forward, Bike Stop/Yield Bill on Hold
The pedestrian countdown crossing bill is a needed update to an outdated law. The stop-sign-as-yield bill upsets people who don't understand its intent.
May 9, 2017
Legislative Update: “Idaho Stop” and Pedestrian Signals to Be Heard Next Week
Two bills very pertinent to bicyclists and pedestrians are set for their first committee hearings in the California legislature on Monday's Assembly Transportation Committee. One would allow bike riders to roll through stop signs--when safe; the other would make clear that pedestrians are allowed to cross while their signals are counting down.
May 4, 2017
CA Legislative Update: Transit Passes, Transportation Commission Representation, Automated Speed Cameras
A bill to create a statewide youth transit pass program passed the Assembly Transportation Committee, as did one that would require that at least one member of the California Transportation Commission represent low-income communities. Another bill, to create a pilot program to use automated speed enforcement cameras in San Francisco and San Jose, was put off for a year.
April 26, 2017
Bill to Stymie 710 Tunnel Is Stymied by Asm Transportation Committee
A bill that would have ended consideration of a potential tunnel on the 710 freeway through Pasadena fell short of votes. Assembly Transportation Committee members hesitated to step into what they call a "local issue."
April 20, 2017
