Senate BillPassed first houseVehicle
SB 962: Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights.
What SB 962 does, verified August 15, 2026
This bill would amend the vehicle code to allow emergency vehicles to display a blue warning light. Existing law already allows certain peace officers, including police officers and probation officers, to display a blue warning light from their emergency vehicles. The proposed amendment would also allow parole officers to display the blue warning light if they complete a 4-hour training course on emergency vehicle operation. This would help increase public awareness and safety when parole officers are responding to emergency situations.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (2026-08-13)Alert me
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| Aug. 13, 2026 | August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 05, 2026 | August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jul. 01, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun. 23, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Jun. 04, 2026 | Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S. |
Latest bill textAmended version, May 14, 2026 · 573 words
| Amended IN Senate May 14, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate March 09, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 962
| Introduced by Senator Archuleta |
February 03, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 25258 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 962, as amended, Archuleta. Emergency vehicles: blue warning lights.
Existing law authorizes specified peace officers, including, among others, police officers, probation officers, and members of the California National Guard, in the performance of the officers’ duties, to display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear of their emergency vehicles.
This bill, the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act, would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to, upon an appropriation from the Legislature, install a blue warning light on an emergency vehicle operated by a parole officer. The bill would additionally authorize parole officers to display the blue warning light from their emergency vehicles if they complete a 4-hour classroom training course regarding the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known as, and may be cited as, the Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act.SEC. 2.
Section 25258 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:25258.
(a) An authorized emergency vehicle operating under the conditions specified in Section 21055 may display a flashing white light from a gaseous discharge lamp designed and used for the purpose of controlling official traffic control signals.(b) (1) An authorized emergency vehicle used by a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1 of, subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (n) of Section 830.3 of, subdivision (b) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32 of, Section 830.33 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, Section 830.6 of, or a probation officer or parole officer, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of, the Penal Code, in the performance of the peace officer’s duties, may, in addition, display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle.
(2) (A) Before a probation officer operates an emergency vehicle with a blue warning light, the officer shall complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Standards and Training for Corrections Division of the Board of State and Community Corrections.
(B) Before (i) Upon an appropriation from the Legislature, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may install a blue warning light on an emergency vehicle operated by a parole officer.
(ii) Before
a parole officer operates an emergency vehicle with a blue warning light, the officer shall complete a four-hour classroom training course on the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training.(3) This subdivision does not expand any existing authority of a probation officer or parole officer to conduct a high-speed vehicle pursuit, nor does it change any existing training requirements for a high-speed vehicle pursuit.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (a), a vehicle shall not be equipped with a device that emits any illumination or radiation that is designed or used for the purpose of controlling official traffic control signals.
Text of SB 962 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions