Committee advances bill to increase protections for transit workers after operators’ testimonies

The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee advanced House Bill 12-90 on a unanimous 11-0 vote, sending the measure to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Linstadt and Representative Valdez, would create enhanced criminal penalties and make the Regional Transportation District (RTD) eligible for certain Prop 130 public-safety funds to support transit-worker safety and law enforcement resources. The committee adopted three sponsor-proposed amendments: (L1) adding Amtrak workers; (L2) inserting the word “reasonably” to align language with existing statutes; and (L4) a technical change to allow law-enforcement agencies to access Prop 130 funds through an eligible agency, per discussions with police chiefs.

Why it matters: Sponsors and union representatives said the bill responds to growing assaults and harassment that affect recruitment and retention of transit staff and the public perception of safety on mass transit. Opponents from the criminal-defense community said existing statutes already cover the conduct targeted by the bill and warned that new, victim-class–specific offenses can create redundant special crimes.

Discussion and testimony Representative Linstadt, the bill’s co-sponsor, said the measure grew from stakeholder work after last year’s RTD-related legislation and aims to protect operators and riders…