Passenger and freight rail: LOSSAN Rail Corridor: working group report.

The document header changed from an enrolled bill format (showing Senate and Assembly passage dates, Governor's receipt line) to a chaptered law format showing 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL,' Chapter 158, and the Governor's approval date of August 27, 2026.

Page numbering changed from page 97 to page 96, and running headers changed from 'SB 1324' to 'Ch. 158,' reflecting the new statutory compilation format.

The deadline for the working group to submit its consensus recommendations report to the Legislature was extended from February 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027, a one-year delay that also extends the duties of local agency representatives and triggers state-mandated local program reimbursement obligations.

A standalone Section 1 stating 'It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation related to the management and performance of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor' was removed from the enrolled version. This declaratory provision had no direct legal effect but signaled legislative commitment to future action on the corridor.

The bill was expanded from a single statement of legislative intent into a full amendment of Government Code Section 14072.6, adding detailed reporting requirements, a working group structure, and sunset provisions.

The bill title changed from a general 'An act relating to transportation' to specifically 'An act to amend Section 14072.6 of the Government Code, relating to transportation,' narrowing the stated scope to a single code section.

New subdivision (a) requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit a comprehensive report within two years of appropriation covering baseline conditions as of January 1, 2025, prioritized capital improvement projects aligned with the State Rail Plan, resiliency projects, administrative actions taken, connections to other rail services, ridership strategies, zero-emission recommendations including SCRRA and NCTD coordination, coastal hazard resiliency, and federal CID program activities.

New subdivision (b) requires the Secretary to convene a working group with representatives from track owners, passenger and freight operators, county transportation commissions (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura), metropolitan planning organizations (Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura), business and community organizations, the California Coastal Commission, and the Division of Rail.

New subdivision (c) requires the working group to submit consensus recommendations on service coordination and delay reduction, alternative management models, statutory or funding changes, federal CID program coordination, coastal environment impacts, recognition of ownership rights held by LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency members, SCRRA, and NCTD, meaningful public engagement, and review by governing boards of those agencies before final submission.

The working group report deadline was extended from February 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027, giving local agency representatives an additional year to complete their work.

New sunset provisions make the section inoperative four years after the subdivision (a) report is submitted, with full repeal the following January 1. The working group reporting requirement becomes inoperative on February 1, 2030.

A new Section 2 provides that if the Commission on State Mandates determines the act contains state-mandated costs, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts shall be made pursuant to Part 7 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.