Senate BillChaptered/SignedStreets and Highways
SB 78: Department of Transportation: report: state highway system: safety enhancements.
What SB 78 does, verified December 8, 2025
This bill aims to improve the delivery of safety enhancement projects on the state highway system. The Department of Transportation is required to prepare a report evaluating current efforts and potential opportunities to streamline processes and procedures. The report must be submitted to the legislature by January 1, 2027, with the goal of enhancing safety on the state highway system.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 743, Statutes of 2025. (2025-10-13)Alert me
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| Oct. 13, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 743, Statutes of 2025. |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 23, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
| Sep. 12, 2025 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2997.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Sep. 08, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2989.) Ordered to the Senate. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, October 13, 2025 · 429 words
Senate Bill No. 78
CHAPTER 743
An act to add and repeal Section 237 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to transportation.
[ Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 78, Seyarto. Department of Transportation: report: state highway system: safety enhancements.
Existing law establishes the Department of Transportation and vests it with full possession and control of the state highway system.
This bill would require the department to prepare a report evaluating current efforts and potential opportunities to streamline the processes and procedures for the delivery of safety enhancement projects on the state highway system, as specified. The bill would require the department to submit the report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 237 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read:237.
(a) The department shall prepare a report evaluating current efforts and potential opportunities to streamline the processes and procedures for the delivery of safety enhancement projects on the state highway system, including all of the following:(1) A review of administrative, regulatory, and procedural factors that affect the timing of safety enhancement projects.
(2) An evaluation of the use and feasibility of alternative project delivery methods, such as design-build, progressive design-build, job order contracting, and construction manager/general contractor, and other innovative approaches, as determined by the department.
(3) An assessment of whether the department has sufficient statutory authority to effectively use the methods evaluated pursuant to paragraph (2) for safety-specific projects, and the identification of any areas where additional authority may be needed.
(4) Recommendations for enhancing interagency coordination and procurement strategies to streamline delivery of safety enhancement projects without compromising safety or transparency.
(5) A summary of existing and planned department initiatives to streamline the delivery of safety enhancements.
(b) The report required by this section shall be used as an informational source and shall be based only on available data.
(c) The report required by this section shall not do either of the following:
(1) Include project-specific findings or imply causality between delivery timelines and safety outcomes.
(2) Create a new duty, right, or standard of care for the department.
(d) (1) On or before January 1, 2027, the department shall submit the report required by this section to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2031.
Text of SB 78 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions