Assembly Transportation Committee advances package of bills on port emissions, school-zone speeds, EV chargers, autonomous delivery

The California State Assembly Transportation Committee advanced eight bills after extended discussion and public testimony, sending each to the next committee with instructions for further review. Major items the committee moved on included AB 605 (cargo-handling equipment pilot program), AB 1132 (community resilience indicators for Caltrans vulnerability assessments), AB 382 (lowering school zone speed limits to 20 mph), AB 902 (wildlife crossings for transportation projects), AB 1014 (giving Caltrans discretion in speed assessments on state highways), AB 1022 (ending vehicle immobilization/tow solely to collect unpaid parking tickets), AB 1423 (charger reliability and enforcement for state-funded EV chargers), and AB 33 (requiring a human safety operator on driverless commercial delivery vehicles).

The package matters because it touches public safety, worker protections, climate resilience and state investments. The committee’s actions will move bills to appropriations, natural resources, local government, utilities, or other panels for additional review and possible floor consideration. Votes reflected significant bipartisan support for several measures and more divided tallies on items that raised fiscal or enforcement concerns.

AB 605 (Marisucci): The committee advanced AB 605 to the Committee on Natural Resources. The bill would create a pilot program allowing use of hydrogen internal-combustion cargo-handling equipment certified under certain EU standards for the machine’s useful life, while asking for protections and standards on NOx emissions. Assemblymember Marisucci, the author, said, “don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good,” to describe the bill’s intent to reduce diesel use while ports remain competitive. Opponents and commenters, including South Coast Air Quality Management District, urged care on NOx and the bill’s limits on future action by air regulators. Outcome: Passed to Natural Resources (tally reported in committee: majority in favor).

AB 1132 (filed/author presented as AB 11 32): The committee passed AB 1132 to Appropriations. The bill directs Caltrans to integrate community resilience indicators into its transportation climate vulnerability assessments, in consultation with OES and CHP, to better account for how extreme heat, wildfires and other climate impacts harm people who use the state highway system. Supporters—including Greenlining Institute and AARP California—said the measure would help planners identify where shade, evacuation access, and services for older adults and people with disabilities are most needed. Outcome: Passed to Appropriations (vote reported: majority in favor).

AB 382 (Berman): The committee approved AB 382 to Appropriations. The bill would set a default 20 mph school zone speed limit beginning in 2029 while allowing local flexibility (flashing beacons/hours) to match neighborhood conditions. Supporters cited research on lower fatality risk at 20 mph; some members urged clearer language on when the reduced limit is in effect and whether e-bikes are covered. Outcome: Passed to Appropriations (committee reported vote in favor).

AB 902 (Schultz): The committee moved AB 902, the Connected Communities Act, to Local Government as amended. The bill would require lead agencies to implement wildlife crossings and other connectivity features in identified connectivity areas for new transportation projects where feasible, to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintain habitat connectivity. Supporters (open-space districts, conservation groups) emphasized collision-reduction and public-safety benefits; the building industry said recent amendments addressed some prior concerns and moved to neutral. Outcome: Passed as amended to Local Government (committee vote included a minority no).

AB 1014 (Rogers): The committee advanced AB 1014 to Appropriations. The bill would allow Caltrans more discretion when setting speeds on state highways so engineers can lower limits in areas where highways function as community arterials (town centers, tourist areas) rather than be constrained by the 85th-percentile rule alone. Supporters argued it would improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists; one member urged consultation with federal funding authorities. Outcome: Passed to Appropriations (committee vote in favor).

AB 1022 (Carla/author listed as "Carlra" in transcript): The committee approved AB 1022 to the next committee. The bill would prohibit local governments from immobilizing or towing vehicles solely to collect unpaid parking tickets (so-called “poverty tows”), citing audits and a court ruling that such tows can be constitutionally problematic. Sponsors described traumatic consequences for low-income people; local government and parking-enforcement groups warned the bill would reduce tools to manage right-of-way and out-of-state plates. Outcome: Passed to next committee (recorded committee tally showed a divided vote).

AB 1423 (Erwin): The committee moved AB 1423 to Utilities and Energy. The bill would require that publicly funded EV chargers meet forthcoming CEC reliability standards and provide enforcement mechanisms for chargers installed with state grants prior to 2024. Industry opponents asked that requirements not be made retroactive to existing installations and urged alignment with pending CEC rulemaking and existing consent-decree and grant terms. Outcome: Passed to Utilities & Energy (committee recorded favorably).

AB 33 (majority leader/author): The committee passed AB 33 to Appropriations. The bill would require a qualified human safety operator on driverless vehicles used to deliver commercial goods to residences or businesses on public roads and set a statutorily triggered review process with DMV/CHP reporting and a legislative oversight hearing before the operator requirement could be removed. Supporters, including Teamsters and labor affiliates, framed the bill as a public-safety and job-protection measure; industry groups, EV and AV manufacturers and disability-rights advocates urged further negotiation and argued the bill could invalidate existing DMV deployment permits and limit beneficial services. Outcome: Passed to Appropriations (committee vote reported 12–2).

Votes at a glance (committee tallies reported in the hearing): AB 605 — passed to Natural Resources (committee majority); AB 1132 — passed to Appropriations (majority); AB 382 — passed to Appropriations (majority); AB 902 — passed as amended to Local Government (majority, recorded minority no); AB 1014 — passed to Appropriations (majority); AB 1022 — passed to next committee (divided committee vote reported); AB 1423 — passed to Utilities & Energy (majority); AB 33 — passed to Appropriations (reported 12–2).

The committee recorded extensive public testimony for and against several bills, asked authors to refine language on enforcement, NOx standards, timelines, and reporting, and left many measures open for further amendments. Next steps: each bill will proceed to the committee listed above for fiscal review and additional hearings before potential floor consideration. The committee chair and authors asked stakeholders to continue negotiations on technical fixes and workforce transition plans.

Quotes (selected): Assemblymember Marisucci, author of AB 605: “don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.” Greg Kumala, Teamsters (AB 33 sponsor): “This bill would ensure the presence of workers like myself in the supply chain out of recognition of the need of good jobs and public safety.”

Ending: The committee adjourned after completing its roll calls and moving the bills listed above to the next committee steps. Members asked authors to return with amendments and more data where requested, and several members signaled they will continue negotiating language on NOx standards, out-of-state plate enforcement, retroactivity for grant-funded chargers, workforce transition, and a schedule for data-driven review of any operator requirement for autonomous vehicles.