Transportation budget trailer bill.

Document format changed from an official chaptered bill layout (with page numbers, 'Ch. 82' headers, and formal section numbering) to a web page display with navigation links and search functionality. The underlying legislative text of SB 169 remains the same.

The high road construction careers program funding source changed from a minimum of $50 million in federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds allocated over 4 years to a minimum of $30 million in state transportation funds, reducing the total by $20 million and shifting from federal to state money.

The SR-710 Rehabilitation Account cap increased from $1.2 million to $15 million, allowing Caltrans to hold significantly more surplus property sale proceeds for required repairs of residential properties in Pasadena-area communities.

The $15 expedited service fee at DMV's Sacramento headquarters office (for services completed within 72 hours) was repealed.

The suspension of transit fare-to-operating-cost ratio penalties was extended from the 2019-20 through 2025-26 fiscal years to include 2026-27, giving transit operators one additional year without funding reductions for failing to meet fare revenue targets.

The exemption from transit efficiency standards (which would otherwise restrict how much of an operator's allocation can be used for operations) was extended from 2020-21 through 2025-26 to include 2026-27.

New provisions require the High-Speed Rail Inspector General to publish complete audit and review reports on its website, notify the Governor and Authority, and submit copies to the Legislature. Reports may be held confidential if they reveal security or fraud detection weaknesses posing substantial risk, with mandatory reassessment every 120 days.

A new automated enforcement program is authorized for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games route network, including civil penalties for improper use, a public information campaign requirement, warning letters before violations, notice of violation within 15 days, administrative hearing options (written declaration, video conference, or in person), and a new Games Route Network Account in the State Transportation Fund. Violations do not result in license suspension, registration renewal prevention, or points on driving records.

All books, papers, records, and correspondence of the High-Speed Rail Inspector General's office are now designated as public records subject to the California Public Records Act, with specific exceptions for personal papers of confidential sources, incomplete audits, unused memoranda, employee surveys, and investigation records.

The Inspector General is prohibited from destroying papers or memoranda supporting a completed audit or review sooner than 3 years after the corresponding report is published or delivered.

The Inspector General's annual reporting requirement was changed to require reporting at the beginning of each fiscal year (rather than when the Authority provides statutorily required documents) and to cover only findings from reports published under the new provisions.

Electronic notification by DMV no longer requires the department to have identified the person before accepting consent; instead it requires that the person has been identified, provided an email or similar electronic address, and been informed they will not receive a separate paper copy.

A new Vehicle Code section defines 'certificate of title' or 'certificate of ownership' as an official record in paper or electronic form that establishes proof of legal vehicle ownership, enabling electronic titles.

DMV social security number disclosure exceptions were expanded to permit the department to disclose SSN information to participate in the State-to-State Verification Service operated by AAMVA, solely for verifying and exchanging driver's license, ID card, and driver history records with participating jurisdictions.

The digital driver's license pilot program participation limit increased from 15% to 60% of licensed drivers, substantially expanding who can use mobile or digital alternatives to physical licenses and ID cards.

The requirement for DMV to publish the driver's manual (synopsis of vehicle laws) was changed from requiring physical copies in English and Spanish delivered to field offices and law enforcement to requiring publication on the department's internet website, eliminating the other distribution requirements.

The written notice requirement informing drivers that they must pass a knowledge examination to renew their license was deleted from the renewal process.

Header changed from enrolled bill format (Senate Bill No. 169, passage dates, Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk signatures) to chaptered law format (STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL, CHAPTER 82, approved by Governor July 13, 2026).

Page numbers changed from 97 to 96 and running headers changed from 'SB 169' to 'Ch. 82' throughout the document.

Line wrapping and paragraph formatting were adjusted throughout to match the chaptered law layout, with no changes to the actual statutory text or policy content.