Bikeways: reversions and modifications.

All provisions related to homeless encampments on state highways were deleted, including the dedicated Caltrans liaison, delegated maintenance agreements with local governments, reimbursement authority, general entry permits, and annual reporting requirements. The bill's short title (California Homeless Encampment Collaboration Act) was also removed.

The bill's stated purpose was narrowed from covering both bikeway protections and homeless encampment collaboration to covering only bikeway protections, including the new reversion and modification restrictions.

A new provision prohibits bikeways constructed using state general funds from being reverted to a nonactive transportation use or modified in a way that reduces safety, accessibility, or mobility of nonmotorized users for at least 20 years (or the documented useful life, whichever is less).

The term 'active transportation' was defined as a use that encourages increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking.

Modifications to protected state-funded bikeways must be consistent with an active transportation use and require both a duly noticed public meeting to discuss the intent to modify and a duly noticed public hearing where the final design is considered, per the Ralph M. Brown Act.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' reflecting the removal of provisions that likely carried state fiscal implications (reimbursement to local governments for encampment services).

Removed the entire Article 5 (Sections 14190-14195) from Government Code, which had required Caltrans to develop joint action plans for each district, establish advisory committees with local government and state agency representatives, allocate funds upon appropriation for shelter services and outreach programs, and submit annual reports on encampment outcomes and effectiveness.

Added an exemption for temporary removals not exceeding 180 days for construction, emergency repair, or utility work, provided the agency adopts a resolution establishing a detour route of equivalent or lesser traffic stress that includes a bikeway of any class.

Added a legislative finding that the bikeway provisions address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair, making them applicable to all cities including charter cities.

The homeless encampment provisions were simplified: the Senate version's dedicated liaison office with five enumerated duties, joint action plans, advisory committees, and funding allocation mandate were reduced to a single dedicated liaison role within Section 130.4 focused on facilitating communication, overseeing delegated maintenance agreements, and creating a public digital collection of executed agreements.

Added Section 891.6 to Streets and Highways Code requiring a city, county, or local agency to adopt engineer-certified findings before removing or reducing physical separation of a Class I, II, III, or IV bikeway without equivalent replacement. Findings must demonstrate: (1) no predicted increase in crashes involving vulnerable road users using Highway Safety Manual methodology, (2) no net reduction in bicycle network connectivity at Level of Traffic Stress 2 or below for trips to disadvantaged communities, schools, transit stations, or major employment centers within one mile, and (3) identified alternative routes that do not present materially greater crash risk.

Added a tiered findings requirement based on bikeway class and speed limit: full findings required for Class I/IV bikeways, non-sharrow Class III, or Class II on roads with 35 mph or higher posted speed limits; only safety and connectivity findings (not alternative route analysis) required for non-sharrow Class III or Class II on roads below 35 mph; only the alternative route finding required for sharrow Class III bikeways.

Added a public process requirement: findings must be adopted by resolution at a regularly noticed public meeting, and supporting technical analysis must be made available for public review at least 30 days before the meeting.

Added definitions for 'disadvantaged community' (cross-referencing Section 2382), 'removal' (permanent elimination without concurrent or prior construction of equivalent replacement in same or functionally equivalent corridor), 'sharrow' (cross-referencing Section 891.9), and 'vulnerable road user' (bicyclist or pedestrian as defined in Vehicle Code Section 467).

New paragraph (c)(3) exempts bikeways constructed, in whole or part, using moneys allocated from the Active Transportation Program (Chapter 8, commencing with Section 2380, of Division 3) from both the 20-year protection period and the public meeting/hearing modification requirements.

Fixed a duplicated word ('constructed constructed' to 'constructed') and standardized language from 'state general funds' to 'moneys from the state General Fund' in both the digest and operative text.

Renumbered the definition of 'active transportation' from paragraph (3) to paragraph (4) to accommodate the new exemption paragraph.

Entire Section 891.6 removed, which had required local agencies to adopt engineer-certified findings on safety performance, network continuity, and alternative routes before removing or reducing physical separation of Class I-IV bikeways

Bill title and legislative findings section updated to reference only Section 891 amendment rather than both the Section 891 amendment and the addition of Section 891.6

Removed the prohibition in Section 891(c) against removing or reducing physical separation of protected bikeways without equivalent replacement, which had been the primary enforcement mechanism tied to the findings in Section 891.6

The 20-year reversion/modification protection is narrowed from applying to any bikeway where state general funds were allocated to the agency, to only bikeways actually constructed (in whole or part) using State General Fund moneys

Removed definitions for 'removal,' 'disadvantaged community,' 'sharrow,' and 'vulnerable road user' that supported the now-deleted findings framework

Removed the 180-day temporary removal exception for construction, emergency repair, or utility work, along with its detour route requirement

Added Section 130.4 to the Streets and Highways Code as a second act within the bill, specifically addressing homeless encampments on the state highway system. The original bill only added Article 5 to the Government Code.

New dedicated liaison role under Section 130.4 with expanded duties beyond the original: creating a publicly accessible digital collection of executed delegated maintenance agreements (including geographic location, funding amounts, and activities conducted), collaborating with local governments to develop response timelines for encampment removal requests, and prioritizing encampments that pose environmental hazards such as heightened fire risk.

Added authority for the department to execute delegated maintenance agreements that allow a local agency to use its own homeless encampment abatement policies and personnel, rather than being limited to Caltrans procedures.

Added permissive reimbursement authority: the department may (but is not required to) reimburse local governments for services rendered under delegated maintenance agreements, including outreach programs, environmental cleanup, encampment abatement, trash removal, and graffiti abatement. Reimbursement is contingent on legislative appropriation.

Added a single general entry permit mechanism: the department may grant one general entry permit for the full duration of a delegated maintenance agreement to conduct authorized activities, simplifying what would otherwise require multiple permits.

Added a second annual report requirement under Section 130.4(f) of the Streets and Highways Code (separate from the Government Code report in Section 14194), requiring the department to report on the number of encampments addressed through collaboration and recommendations for improving coordination and resource allocation.