Assembly BillChaptered/SignedVehicle
AB 1944: Zero-emission transit buses: axle weight.
What AB 1944 does, verified October 3, 2026
The bill aims to amend the vehicle code to increase the weight limit for zero-emission transit buses. Currently, the maximum weight limit for transit buses is 20,500 pounds, but this limit is higher for buses procured through a specific solicitation process, with varying limits between 2016 and 2022. The bill proposes to raise the weight limit for zero-emission transit buses to 25,000 pounds until January 1, 2032, for buses procured through the same solicitation process. This change is intended to support the expansion of zero-emission transit bus fleets in California.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 909, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-30)Alert me
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| Sep. 30, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 909, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 30, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 24, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8.). |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 30, 2026 · 1,171 words
Assembly Bill No. 1944
CHAPTER 909
An act to amend Section 35554 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
[ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1944, Lee. Zero-emission transit buses: axle weight.
Existing law prohibits the maximum gross weight on any one axle of a bus from exceeding 20,500 pounds, except the maximum limit for the curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2019, is set at 22,000 pounds. Existing law, notwithstanding the previous provisions, sets specified higher maximum limits up to 25,000 pounds for the curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued during specified periods between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, inclusive, and sets the 22,000-pound maximum limit for an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2022. A violation of this provision is a crime.
This bill would, until January 1, 2032, establish specified higher weight limitations up to 25,000 pounds for zero-emission transit buses procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued at various specified periods between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2031 inclusive.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 35554 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:35554.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 35550, the maximum gross weight on any one axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds.(2) This subdivision does not apply to a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued before January 1, 2016. This subdivision does not apply to a bus purchased during an option period in a multiyear contract to purchase transit buses that is entered into before January 1, 2016, by a publicly owned or operated transit system, or an operator of a transit system under contract with a publicly owned or operated transit system, provided, however, that the option period does not exceed five years from the date of the original contract, or extend beyond January 1, 2021, whichever is earlier.
(b) A transit bus is not subject to Section 35550.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the following provisions shall apply to a transit bus:
(1) The curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000 pounds.
(2) The curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2019, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (c), the following provisions shall apply to an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus:
(1) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall not exceed 25,000 pounds.
(2) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, inclusive, shall not exceed 24,000 pounds.
(3) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000 pounds.
(4) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2022, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (c), and (d), the following provisions shall apply to a zero-emission transit bus:
(1) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2027, inclusive, shall not exceed 25,000 pounds.
(2) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2028, and December 31, 2029, inclusive, shall not exceed 24,000 pounds.
(3) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2030, and December 31, 2031, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000 pounds.
(4) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2032, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds.
(f) Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize a vehicle described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) or described in subdivision (c), (d), or (e) to be operated in violation of Section 35753.
(g) A transit operator operating an articulated transit bus shall, by July 1, 2016, provide notice to all cities and counties in whose jurisdiction the bus will operate in the upcoming calendar year, identifying the approximate routes upon which the bus is expected to be scheduled for service, including the names of streets and roads upon which that service is likely to take place. Thereafter, a transit operator operating an articulated transit bus shall annually provide notice by July 1, to all cities and counties in whose jurisdiction the bus will operate in the upcoming calendar year, identifying any changes to the service on those routes and any new routes upon which the bus is expected to be scheduled for the upcoming year. The notice shall include data from information provided by the bus manufacturer to the transit operator, identifying the weight of the articulated bus.
(h) For purposes of this section, the term “curb weight” means the total weight of a fully loaded transit bus, including maximum fuel, oil, and coolant, and all equipment used in the normal operation of the bus, except without passengers or a driver.
(i) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (h), inclusive, a transit bus shall not operate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways in excess of the weight limitation for transit buses specified in federal law.
(j) If the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any one axle of a transit bus exceeds 20,000 pounds, the axle shall be supported by four wheels bearing load upon the highway.
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