Regional planning: standardized spatial planning datasets.

The bill was reformatted from the traditional legislative document style (with line numbers, page markers like '94' and dash page numbers, and two-column layout) to a clean plain-text format matching the California legislature website's bill text presentation.

Website navigation elements were added to the document header, including links for home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login, quick search, bill information, publications, and other resources.

The core requirement shifted from mandatory to voluntary. Previously, regional planning agencies adopting or amending plans on or after January 1, 2028 were required to incorporate and use the datasets. Now, state, regional, and local governments 'may consider' using them, making the datasets an optional decision support tool rather than a compliance requirement.

Section 65772, which exempted communities with a density greater than 1 unit per acre from the requirements, was removed. This exemption is no longer necessary because the underlying requirements are now voluntary.

All mandatory planning obligations were deleted: the requirement to map and disclose how datasets were used, to identify areas of elevated hazard risk or natural resource sensitivity, to document how those areas influenced planning priorities, and to apply a planning prioritization approach that directed avoidance of growth into high-risk areas.

The guidance obligation was reworded from requiring the office to 'develop and publish guidance for regional planning agencies on methods and best practices for incorporating and documenting use of the datasets' to simply 'develop and provide guidance for agencies to inform them on how to use and integrate the datasets in regional planning processes and products,' reflecting the voluntary nature.

The deadline for compiling and publishing the standardized spatial planning datasets moved from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028. The deadline for developing guidance for agencies moved from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2029.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' meaning the bill no longer triggers the state's obligation to reimburse local agencies for costs mandated by the state, since it no longer imposes mandates on them.

The definition of 'centralized consolidated online platform' was simplified to 'consolidated online platform' and now describes it as providing access to datasets 'as a decision support tool.' The separate definition of 'regional planning agency' was removed from Section 65040.18.

Removed the requirement that at least 50% of interregional and regional transportation improvement program funds be programmed for safe streets projects in transit-oriented development zones lacking adequate pedestrian safety and mobility access.

Removed the renaming of the Active Transportation Program to the Safe Streets Program, the new transit-oriented development zone project selection criteria, and the two-phase application process for the program.

Added Government Code Section 65040.18 requiring the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to compile, standardize, maintain, and make publicly available a core set of statewide standardized spatial planning datasets through a centralized online platform by July 1, 2027.

Removed amendments to Government Code Sections 14526 and 14527 and Streets and Highways Code Sections 2380, 2381, and 2382 that implemented the transportation funding changes.

Added Government Code Article 15 (Sections 65770-65772) requiring regional planning agencies that adopt or substantially amend regional planning documents on or after January 1, 2028 to incorporate and use the standardized spatial planning datasets when developing regional land use strategies, transportation plans, sustainable communities strategies, and infrastructure plans.

Added a planning prioritization approach requiring regional planning agencies to prioritize avoiding growth or significant new infrastructure in areas identified as high hazard risk, significant natural resource sensitivity, or significant agricultural value where feasible, minimize growth where avoidance is not feasible, and encourage mitigation strategies.

Added an exemption (Section 65772) from the dataset use requirements for communities with a density greater than 1 unit per acre, as otherwise determined by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

Added a state mandates reimbursement provision requiring the Commission on State Mandates to determine whether the bill contains costs mandated by the state and provide reimbursement to local agencies accordingly.

The Active Transportation Program study requirement (Section 2386) was retained but repositioned as a separate final section of the bill rather than being part of the primary transportation funding framework. The study deadline of January 1, 2028 and repeal date of January 1, 2032 remain unchanged.

The bill was expanded from a single wildfire provision (changing a report deadline from July 1, 2028 to January 1, 2028) to a multi-code transportation funding reform affecting the Government Code and Streets and Highways Code.

Renames the Active Transportation Program to the Safe Streets Program throughout the Streets and Highways Code, with a transition provision deeming references to the old name as referring to the new name.

Adds legislative findings and declarations establishing policy rationale including greenhouse gas reduction, safety for children, seniors, and persons with disabilities, economic benefits of active transportation, health outcomes, equity concerns, and the need to distinguish genuine active transportation investments from roadway widenings.

Requires at least 50 percent of funds programmed in the interregional transportation improvement program to be allocated to safe streets projects, prioritized for transit-oriented development zones lacking adequate pedestrian safety and mobility access.

Requires at least 50 percent of county share funds in regional transportation improvement programs to be allocated to safe streets projects, with the same transit-oriented development zone prioritization. An exemption applies to county share reserved before January 1, 2027 for future programming years.

Defines 'safe streets project' as a project meeting goals in Section 2380(b) of the Streets and Highways Code, including sidewalks, protected bicycle facilities, safe crossings, traffic calming, and Safe Routes to School projects. Explicitly excludes roadway widenings or capacity expansions that only include incidental bicycle lanes or sidewalks.

Defines 'transit-oriented development zone' by reference to Section 65912.156 of the Government Code.

Requires program guidelines to establish a two-step application process: an initial application that does not require detailed engineering drawings, followed by a final comprehensive application if the initial one is deemed in conformance with guidelines and selection criteria.

Requires that no less than 25 percent of overall Safe Streets Program funds benefit disadvantaged communities during each program cycle, with projects needing to clearly demonstrate a benefit to or be directly located in a disadvantaged community.

Adds 'benefit to transit-oriented development zones' as a new project selection criterion in Safe Streets Program guidelines.

Restricts eligibility for Class III bikeways (painted bike lanes) and Figure 9C-9 markings: they are not eligible unless on a highway with a design speed limit of 25 mph or less, the project reduces the speed limit to 25 mph or less, or the applicant demonstrates appropriateness for the local community context and advancement of a lower-stress network.

Authorizes a letter of no prejudice process allowing implementing agencies to expend their own funds for projects programmed in future years and be reimbursed later, streamlining project delivery.

The entire wildfire prevention component was removed. This included the amendment to Government Code Section 8654.10 that would have accelerated the joint powers authority's report deadline on the California Wildfire Mitigation Financial Assistance Program from July 1, 2028 to January 1, 2028.

New Section 2386 of the Streets and Highways Code requires the California Transportation Commission to conduct a study and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2028 on opportunities to improve equity, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of application for prospective applicants for the Active Transportation Program.

The new study must consider at minimum methods for reducing applicant and administrative burden, including a two-phase application process and a preapplication screening process.

The new Section 2386 is repealed on January 1, 2032 pursuant to Government Code Section 10231.5, making it a temporary study provision.