AB 438 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Authorized emergency vehicles.

Summary
Existing law authorizes the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to issue authorized emergency vehicle permits for certain vehicles, including any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility and any vehicle owned and operated by a fire company, as specified, upon a finding that the vehicle is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement, the immediate preservation of life or property, or the apprehension of law violators. This bill would authorize the commissioner to issue an emergency vehicle permit to any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee who is employed by the office in responding to any disaster.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Sep 2025
Signed into Law
Oct 2025
Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Signed Oct 1, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Sep 2, 2025 · Assembly May 15, 2025

How they voted

400
Passed
Total votes 40
Sep 2, 2025
D Democratic30
30 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican10
10 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
9
Committee
9
Amendments
5
Oct 1, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
legislature
Sep 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2902.).
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Introduced
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2412.).
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
upper
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
upper
May 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1569.)
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 7).
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on TRANS.
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Heather Hadwick
Heather Hadwick
RRepublican
CA
1