Senate Transportation advances package on rideshare organizing, work‑zone enforcement, school‑zone speeds, fuels and active‑transportation measures

The Senate Committee on Transportation on May 20 considered a broad slate of transportation bills, advancing a package of measures to the Appropriations Committee and moving several items on the consent calendar.

AB 1340, a bill by Assemblymembers Mia Berman and Buffy Wicks to allow transportation‑network‑company (TNC) drivers to organize and collectively bargain, drew the most heated testimony. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and Assemblymember Mark Berman presented the bill as a way to “give TNC drivers an opportunity or the choice to self‑organize and designate representatives of their own choosing in order to bargain collectively,” arguing drivers seek more stability and protections. Drivers gave multiple personal accounts of falling pay and no workplace benefits; Mike Robinson, a Lyft driver since 2015, described bringing home about $500 per week before expenses and said a 2023 cancer diagnosis left him with “nothing to fall back on.” Opponents led by Lyft and Uber representatives said AB 1340 conflicts with Proposition 22 and the independence and flexibility drivers value. Malcolm McFarland II, representing Lyft, told the panel the measure “directly contradicts the will of 10,000,000 California voters” and cited Prop 22 protections; John Finley, for Uber, urged the committee to preserve the flexibility voters approved and work toward negotiated solutions.

The authors and allies said the bill is designed to preserve independent‑contractor status while using state antitrust “state action” authority to enable organizing by drivers — a legal approach they said aligns with recent court rulings. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill would change employment status (authors said it would not) and on how collective bargaining rights would work in practice. The committee moved the measure to the Appropriations Committee for further review.

AB 289, sponsored by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (presented by Assemblymember Haney), would authorize automated speed enforcement cameras in active highway construction zones where workers are present. Proponents — including construction union representatives and workers — said evidence from other states shows reduced intrusions and fewer crashes in work zones after cameras were deployed. Justin Self, a highway worker who survived being struck in a work zone, asked the committee to adopt ‘‘every…