SB 359 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Use Fuel Tax Law: Diesel Fuel Tax Law: exempt bus operation.

Summary
The Use Fuel Tax Law imposes a state excise tax at specified rates, generally $0.18 per gallon, on the use of fuel, as defined, and establishes various exemptions from those taxes, including an exemption for any transit district, transit authority, or city owning and operating a local transit system, as provided. This bill would additionally apply this exemption to a county that owns and operates a local transit system, as provided. The California Constitution provides for the establishment of the State Board of Equalization, which, before July 1, 2017, had primary responsibility for most of the state's duties, powers, and responsibilities regarding the administration of taxes and fees. Existing law, on July 1, 2017, transferred to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration various duties, powers, and responsibilities of the State Board of Equalization, including administration of the Use Fuel Tax Law, as specified. This bill would change references in the Use Fuel Tax Law provisions described above from the "State Board of Equalization" to the "California Department of Tax and Fee Administration" to reflect the transfer of the board's duties, powers, and responsibilities to the department. The Diesel Fuel Tax Law imposes taxes at a specified rate with respect to the distribution or delivery of each gallon of diesel fuel, and establishes various exemptions from those taxes, including an exemption for an exempt bus operation that consists of, among other things, a transit district, transit authority, or city owning and operating a local transit system, as provided. This bill would additionally apply this exemption to a county that owns and operates a local transit system, as provided. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy, but its operative date would depend on its effective date.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Assembly Passage
Sep 2025
Signed into Law
Oct 2025
Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed Oct 1, 2025
Floor votes · Senate May 29, 2025 · Assembly Sep 8, 2025

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
May 29, 2025
D Democratic30
28 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican10
10 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
4
Oct 1, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
legislature
Sep 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2818.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
upper
Sep 8, 2025
Introduced
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
upper
Sep 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2991.) Ordered to the Senate.
lower
Aug 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
lower
Jul 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
lower
May 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1325.) Ordered to the Assembly.
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1197.) (May 23).
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1082.) (May 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Roger Niello
Roger Niello
RRepublican
CA
6