Vehicles: homelessness.

The entire amendment to Vehicle Code Section 22661 was dropped. This removed the change that would have allowed local agencies to skip the 10-day notice before removing an inoperable vehicle valued under $200 if EITHER a property owner signed a release OR the vehicle was determined to be a public nuisance presenting an imminent threat, rather than requiring both conditions.

The bill's scope narrowed from amending two sections of the Vehicle Code (22661 and adding 22851.35) to only adding Section 22851.35. The act description was updated accordingly.

The definition of 'abandoned vehicle' was moved from subdivision (a) to subdivision (d) and substantially revised. The new definition requires that the vehicle be left on public or private property in such a neglected condition that the owner's intention to relinquish all further rights or interests may be reasonably concluded, AND either: (1) no signs of human habitation with reasonable belief based on outreach that it is not used for habitation, or (2) inoperable due to absence of motor, transmission, or wheels. The old definition only required one of those two criteria without the overarching 'neglected condition' and 'relinquish rights' threshold.

Criterion (2) of the abandoned vehicle definition no longer requires the vehicle to be 'incapable of being towed.' It now only requires that the vehicle is inoperable due to absence of a motor, transmission, or wheels. However, the main operative provision still requires the vehicle cannot be towed or otherwise moved before dismantlement can proceed.

The section's subdivisions were renumbered: the main dismantling provision moved from (b) to (a), reconstruction restrictions from (c) to (b), emergency summary abatement exception from (d) to (c), and the definition is now in (d). Cross-references within the section were updated accordingly, including a reference in the notice-posting requirement that now cites 'subdivision (a), paragraph (1)' instead of just 'subdivision (a).'

The amendment date was updated from June 25, 2026 to August 10, 2026, with the prior June 25 amendment date retained in the header.

New Section 22851.35 creates authority for local agencies to dismantle abandoned vehicles in place when they cannot be towed or otherwise moved, rather than requiring removal and storage first.

The entire amendment to Section 22851.3 (governing disposal of towed abandoned vehicles valued at $500 or less) is removed from the bill.

New definition of 'abandoned vehicle' includes a homelessness-related criterion: the vehicle must not have signs of human habitation and the agency must reasonably believe it is not being used for habitation based on recently conducted outreach.

The exemption from 10-day notice in Section 22661 for vehicles under $200 no longer requires the vehicle to be 'incapable of being towed' - only that it is inoperable due to absence of a motor, transmission, or wheels.

New 15-day on-vehicle notice requirement before dismantlement, plus written notice within 48 hours to registered owners and interested persons via certified or first-class mail.

Hearing deadline changed from 48 hours (in the removed Section 22851.3) to 5 business days in the new Section 22851.35, giving owners more time to respond.

Explicit provision stating the new section does not prevent emergency summary abatement of abandoned vehicles creating imminent health and safety hazards under state law or local ordinance.

The entire proposed amendment to Vehicle Code Section 22650 was deleted. That provision had stated that any vehicle removal is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment and California Constitution, and that community caretaking removals are only reasonable if necessary to achieve the specific caretaking need (such as ensuring safe traffic flow or protecting property from theft or vandalism). Its removal means the bill no longer imposes constitutional-level constraints on when law enforcement may remove unattended vehicles from highways.

Section 22851.3 was restructured from a format with subdivision (a) containing numbered paragraphs (1) through (12) plus subdivision (b), into a flat structure with lettered subdivisions (a) through (l). The substantive requirements (72-hour notice, 48-hour owner notification, poststorage hearing procedures, disposal authorization rules, and the $500 value threshold) remain unchanged.

Section numbering was renumbered: the former Section 2 (amending 22661) is now Section 1, and the former Section 3 (amending 22851.3) is now Section 2, reflecting the deletion of the former Section 1 (amending 22650).

Removed new Section 22660, which would have explicitly authorized cities and counties to adopt ordinances for abatement and removal of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles as public nuisances, with cost recovery provisions.

Removed amendments to Section 22662 that would have authorized local authorities to operate disposal sites for scrapped vehicles and allowed in-place scrapping and dismantling of certain vehicles at suitable local authority sites.

Removed the requirement that local vehicle removal ordinances be applicable to public agencies operating vehicle buyback programs, including vehicles used as shelter, regardless of operability or registration status.

Expanded the exemption from the 72-hour pre-removal notice in Section 22851.3(a)(1) to cover not only abandoned vehicles removed under Section 22669(d) valued at $300 or less, but also abandoned vehicles or parts that are inoperable due to absence of a motor, transmission, or wheels, incapable of being towed, determined to be a public nuisance presenting an immediate threat to public health or safety, and valued at $300 or less.

Removed the reference to 'as defined in Section 670' from the emergency summary abatement provision in Section 22650(e), and removed the separate requirement (former subsection (i) of 22661) that local ordinances must include a provision specifying emergency summary abatement procedures.

Added Assembly Member Nguyen as a coauthor of the bill.

Entire Sections 1 and 2 of the bill (amending Health and Safety Code Sections 50236 and 50243) are deleted. These sections would have authorized use of HHAP round 5 and round 6 grant funds for vehicle buyback programs for persons experiencing vehicular homelessness, provided the buyback offer was paired with an offer of interim or permanent housing.

The bill's stated purpose no longer includes amending the Health and Safety Code. It now only amends Vehicle Code Sections 22650, 22660, 22661, 22662, and 22851.3.

Section 22660 removes the phrase 'or vehicles formerly used as shelter by persons experiencing homelessness,' making the local ordinance authority apply to all abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles without specifically referencing homelessness.

Section 22661(c) (formerly (c), now renumbered) removes the specific reference to 'persons experiencing homelessness' and the citation to specific Health and Safety Code funding sections (50232-50238, 50239-50244, 50250-50254.5). The provision now applies more broadly to public agencies operating vehicle buyback programs for removal of vehicles used as shelter, without tying it to a specific homelessness funding source.

Section 22661's introductory clause changes from 'abandoned vehicles' to 'abandoned or inoperable vehicles,' and subsections are renumbered (d through i become c through g) following the removal of content.

Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez is added as a principal coauthor alongside Senator Richardson.

Added a cross-reference to Section 670 of the Vehicle Code in both the emergency summary abatement provision (Section 22650(e)) and the local ordinance authority (Section 22660), clarifying that only vehicles as defined in Section 670 are covered by these removal and abatement powers.

Removed the legislative intent statement from the digest that the bill would 'state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to vehicles, including, but not limited to, recreational vehicles, trailers, and oversized vehicles,' narrowing the stated scope away from broader vehicle categories.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has identifiable fiscal implications that require fiscal committee review before passage.

Senator Richardson was added as principal coauthor of the bill.

The Vehicle Code amendments were restructured with new section numbering (SEC. 3 and SEC. 4 now contain subsections labeled SECTION 1 and SEC. 2 respectively), suggesting a reorganization of the bill's articles or sections.

The bill now amends five Vehicle Code sections and two Health and Safety Code sections, expanding far beyond the original one-section intent statement to create a full framework for addressing vehicular homelessness through vehicle removal, buyback funding, and disposal.

Vehicle Code Section 22660 is amended to authorize local governments to adopt ordinances for abatement and removal of vehicles formerly used as shelter by persons experiencing homelessness, in addition to the existing categories of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles.

Health and Safety Code Sections 50236 (round 5) and 50243 (round 6) are amended to authorize use of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program funds for vehicle buyback programs for persons experiencing vehicular homelessness, but only if the buyback offer is paired with an offer of interim or permanent housing.

The exemption from the 10-day notice requirement in Vehicle Code Section 22661 is changed from requiring both that the vehicle be valued under $200 and that the property owner sign a release, to an either/or standard: prior notice is not required if either the property owner has signed a release OR the vehicle is determined to be a public nuisance presenting an imminent threat to public health or safety.

Vehicle Code Section 22661 now requires that local ordinances for removal of abandoned vehicles include a provision making the ordinance applicable to public agencies operating vehicle buyback programs for persons experiencing homelessness, regardless of the vehicle's operability, registration status, or condition.

Vehicle Code Section 22851.3 is reorganized and amended to add a waiver provision: the standard disposal notice requirements are waived if the public agency either obtains a signed release from the vehicle owner assigning their interest, or determines the vehicle poses a public nuisance, posts a 15-day public notice on the vehicle, and allows for a hearing.

Vehicle Code Sections 22650 and 22661 explicitly authorize local governments to perform emergency summary abatement of vehicles creating imminent health and safety hazards, pursuant to state law or local ordinance.

Vehicle Code Section 22662 is amended to authorize local authorities to operate their own disposal sites when commercial channels are unavailable or inadequate, and to allow vehicles from buyback programs to be scrapped and dismantled in place at a suitable site operated by a local authority.

Vehicle Code Section 22650 is amended to clarify that any removal of a vehicle is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment and California Constitution, and that community caretaking-based removals are only reasonable if necessary to achieve the specific community caretaking need.