SAFE’s Legislation Wins for 2025
Written by Kristen Weiss, Policy and Legislation Coordinator for SAFE
With an Intro by Damian Kevitt, Executive Director for SAFE
2025 was a banner year for Streets Are For Everyone’s state policy and legislation team.
We worked on more bills, sponsored more, and achieved a higher win rate than in any previous year.
There were, of course, a few important bills that we frustratingly lost the fight on, but it doesn’t mean we’ve given up on them.
The big wins were our sponsored bills, SB 720 and AB 1014. You’ll read more about them below.
In case you don’t know, SAFE has an amazing Policy and Legislation Internship, developed over the last 4 years and led by Kristen, who also started at SAFE as an intern.
Most of the state policy work is done by this team.
I help to lead the team, but work directly on 1-2 of our most important bills. It’s Kristen and the Policy and Leg interns who do most of the work. So 90% of the thanks go to them.
This year’s Policy and Legislation Intern team was:
Dave Owen – a retired Lawyer, avid cyclist, and future member of SAFE’s Legislation Advisory Board.
Alexander Park – he holds a BA in History, Political Science, and Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MPA from the University of Southern California.
Celia Powers – she is an economics and political science student at UCLA with a strong background in communications and journalism.
Andre Kfouri – he is a second-year Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies student at UCLA.
I also want to thank our partners on some of the sponsored bills — Marc Vukcevich with Streets For All, Deb Banks with Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, and Jared Sanchez with CalBike.
Now for the big wins and a few unfortunate losses.
Damian Kevitt
Executive Director, Streets Are For Everyone
Bills Supported That Were Signed Into Law:
SB 720 - Automated Traffic Enforcement System Programs
A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill, Signed into Law!
SB 720, introduced by Senator Ashby, establishes an opt-in red light camera program for local jurisdictions called the Safer Streets Program, designed to save lives, improve privacy and security, and eliminate costly fines. The bill would mark a significant improvement over California’s current red light camera program, which is outdated, issues fines of up to $500, has substantial loopholes that allow people to avoid paying them, and provides very few privacy protections.
Under the revamped program, civil violations (similar to parking tickets) would be issued to the owners of vehicles running red lights. There will be a more equitable fine structure, which reduces first-time fines to $100, increases by $100 for the second violation, and by $150 for the third, up to a maximum of $500, with no additional fees, but has a mechanism in place for low-income drivers to receive automatic fine reductions. Furthermore, these violations would not affect a driver’s record or result in higher insurance premiums, and the program also includes stronger privacy protections, as it no longer requires a driver’s photo.
SB 720 is a bill co-sponsored with SAFE, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, and Streets For All, both important partners for this bill. We also thank the Office of Senator Ashby for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.
AB 1014 - Traffic Safety: speed limits
A SAFE Co-sponsored Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 1014, introduced by Assemblymember Rogers, will aim to improve Caltrans's ability to lower or maintain speed limits on state highways where they are the most dangerous. It gives Caltrans greater authority to set safer speed limits, allowing Caltrans to reduce speed limits by 5 miles per hour if a highway segment is designated as a safety corridor or is located in an area with high pedestrian activity.
Additionally, the bill also authorizes Caltrans to lower speeds by five miles per hour if an area is designed as a safety corridor, if an area has a high concentration of pedestrians and cyclists, is in business activity district on a highway that is not a freeway, or to maintain or revert to a previously established speed limit on a road or highway, that is not a freeway, once a registered engineer must confirm that no general-purpose lanes have been added since the engineering and traffic survey (ETS) that set that speed limit.
SAFE co-sponsored this bill with Del Norte County. We thank the Office of Assemblymember Rogers for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.
AB 366 - Ignition interlock devices
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 366, introduced by Assemblymembers Petrie-Norris and Ransom, seeks to extend existing California law, which requires repeat DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device and allows discretionary installation for first-time offenders. The bill will also generally restrict people from driving and will not be reinstated until the person gives proof of financial responsibility and gives proof satisfactory to the department of successful completion of a DMV-licensed driving-under-the-influence program.
We thank the Offices of Assemblymember Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Ransom for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. We also want to thank MADD, the bill's primary sponsor. While SAFE is pleased that the legislation successfully passed, we are disappointed that it was significantly amended and no longer includes the provision requiring all DUI offenders, including first-time offenders, to install an ignition interlock device (IID).
AB 875 - Vehicle removal
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 875, introduced by Assemblymember Muratsuchi, is a bill that will also authorize a peace officer to remove an illegal electric motorcycle, also known as an e-moto, defined as a vehicle exceeding 20 mph on a highway, or a class 3 electric bicycle operated by a person who is under 16 years of age. The bill would also require an agency to seize the vehicle for at least 48 hours and require the owner or violator to pay all costs related to removal, seizure, and storage.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Muratsuchi for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.
AB 390 - Vehicles: highway safety
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 390, introduced by Assemblymember Wilson, seeks to extend California's existing "move over or slow down" law to include all stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights or other warning indicators.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Wilson for its leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and AAA for co-sponsoring it.
AB 289 - State highway work zone speed safety program
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 289, introduced by Assemblymember Haney, expands SB 1297, the City of Malibu’s pilot program for automated speed enforcement systems in designated state highway construction and maintenance zones, to Caltrans, allowing the department to deploy up to 75 speed safety systems within state highway construction and maintenance zones.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Haney for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.
SB 671 - Pedestrian Crossing Signals
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
SB 671, introduced by Senator Cervantes, is a bill that will update requirements for pedestrian and traffic signals in California by mandating the use of accessible and touch-free pedestrian signals at new state highway crossings, requiring Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs), and including the installation, activation, and maintenance of an accessible pedestrian signal (APS). The bill also requires state and local agencies to track and report signal upgrades, creating a state-mandated local program with potential for reimbursement of associated costs.
We thank the Office of Senator Cervantes for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and congratulations to the California Council of the Blind, the bill’s sponsor.
SB 79 - Housing development: transit-oriented development
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
SB 79, introduced by Senator Wiener, will make it legal to build more multi-family housing near rail stations and rapid bus lines, including in areas where such homes are currently illegal. Under the bill’s provisions, the type of new homes allowed is determined by the distance to a transit stop, the transit type and frequency, and the overall level of transit infrastructure in the region.
We thank the Office of Senator Wiener for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. Also, well done to California YIMBI, Greenbelt Alliance, Spur, and Streets For All, the bill's co-sponsors.
AB 1085 - License plates: obstruction or alteration
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 1085, introduced by Assemblymember Stefani, seeks to prohibit the installation or manufacture of shades or tints that block electronic devices from reading license plates, such as those used by law enforcement, toll systems, or emissions monitoring systems. It would also impose a $1,000 fine per item sold or manufactured and, since this bill creates a new offense, establish a state-mandated local program.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Stefani for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and Streets for All for co-sponsoring it.
AB 382 - Pedestrian safety: school zones: speed limits.
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 382, introduced by Assemblymember Berman, would make school zones safer by reducing prima facie speed limits to 20 mph from 25 mph when children are present. The bill also expands and updates the definition of a school zone to include areas within 500 feet of school grounds.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Berman for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, as well as Streets For All, the bill’s sponsor.
AB 435 - Child passenger restraints
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 435, introduced by Wilson, seeks to define what it means to be “properly restrained by a safety belt,” which would mean that the child or passenger must meet the requirements of the 5-Step test. By changing the definition of “properly restrained by a safety belt,” it would expand existing crime and vehicle code and impose a state-mandated local program.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Wilson for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill.
AB 39 - Local Electrification Planning Act
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 39, introduced by Assemblymember Zbur, requires each city and county to prepare and adopt an electrification plan, or integrate a previously established plan, in its general plan, to identify various goals, objectives, policies, and implementation measures to expand electrification; more electric vehicle charging stations and investments in zero-emission technologies, and decarbonization efforts for transportation and buildings.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Zbur for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill. Congratulations to Building Decarbonization Coalition and CALSTART, the co-sponsors of this bill.
AB 545 - Vehicles: electric bicycles.
A SAFE Priority Bill, Signed Into Law!
AB 545, introduced by Assemblymember Davies, seeks to curtail the sale of “applications” that can be used to illegally modify the speed of electric bicycles (“ebikes”) by adding the term “application” to the list of items banned from sale. It expands existing law that prohibits the sale of “products or devices” that can increase an ebike's speed above allowable levels.
We thank the Office of Assemblymember Davies for their leadership in introducing and supporting the bill, and we are pleased that it successfully passed.
Bills We Supported but Died
AB 891 - Quick-Build Project Pilot Program
A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill that Unfortunately Died…
AB 891, introduced by Assemblymember Zbur, would have established a Quick-Build Project Pilot Program to expedite the development and implementation of quick-build bike lanes and intersection projects to improve safety on state highways for cyclists and pedestrians.
Despite quick-build being fast, flexible infrastructure changes that can be tested and adjusted as needed, the bill was placed on the suspense file after passing through the Senate Appropriations committee, and has died.
AB 954 -Interregional transportation strategic plan: bicycle highways
A SAFE Co-Sponsored Bill that Unfortunately Died…
AB 954, introduced by Assemblymember Bennet, would require Caltrans to assess, in accordance with the California Transportation Plan, the potential for incorporating bicycle highways into strategic interregional corridors identified in the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP).
SAFE cosponsored the bill alongside CalBike; however, despite extensive changes and amendments, AB 954 was placed on the inactive file and has died.
SB 455-Electric Bicycles
A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…
SB 455, introduced by Senator Blakespear, would look to clarify the definition of electric bicycles (“ebikes”), their labeling requirements, and law enforcement’s reporting of incidents involving ebikes. The bill addressed the issue of some e-bikes being sold with motors that exceed the 28 mph limit for Class 3 e-bikes, which do not fit into California’s current three-class system. It also required officers to include e-bike identification information in any crash or injury report.
SAFE worked with Senator Blakespear’s office and Streets for All to draft the bill. However, a proposal to create a new Class IV for faster “e-motos” was opposed by the DMV due to system upgrade costs, and the bill was held in suspense.
AB 861 Community colleges: students: public transportation: Los Angeles Community College District
A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…
AB 861, introduced by Assemblymember Solace, would require that the Los Angeles Community College District to annually work with the LA Metro, by sending in a memorandum, stating they want GoPass TAP cards for participating students enrolled as well as establishing a student ambassador program within LA Metro where students assist with issues related to security, rider assistance, and facility upkeep on LA Metro rail and bus lines serving Los Angeles Community College District.
However, due to budgetary reasons, the bill was held in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
AB 981 - Vehicles: active intelligent speed assist devices
A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…
AB 981, introduced by Assemblymember Gipson, would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a pilot program in the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern that would require a driver who has excessive speed, reckless driving, and exhibition of speed or driving under the influence to install an active intelligent speed assist. By creating new crimes related to the installation and maintenance of an ISA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
AB 981 was held in suspense by Assembly Appropriations due to significant startup costs for the program and the continued operation of the pilot program for several years, which could cost DMV potentially millions of dollars a year.
AB 1132 - Department of Transportation: climate change vulnerability assessment: community resilience assessment
A SAFE Priority Bill that Unfortunately Died…
AB 1132, i to conduct community resilience assessments, which evaluate the broad social and economic impacts of climate-related threats to critical transportation infrastructure. These assessments will be published in a “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment” report. Assessments made by the Department of Transportation will help the state be better prepared in the event of a climate disaster, such as the one witnessed in early 2025, the California fires in Los Angeles.
AB 1132 died in Assembly Appropriations, held under suspense due to the budgetary costs of implementing the requirements and assessments the bill requests.
List of Bills We Successfully Opposed
AB 612 - Transportation: Highway Design Manual: emergency response times.
A SAFE Opposed Bill that has Died!
AB 612, introduced by Assemblymember Rogers, seeks to require the Department of Transportation to update the MUTCD to require local governments to consult with fire departments on road improvements to ensure they do not negatively impact emergency response times. Each year, countless lives are saved by emergency responders, and we acknowledge that any delays in response time can have potentially harmful consequences.
SAFE fully supports the Safe System Approach to road safety as outlined by the US DOT. SAFE opposes the bill because if local governments are directed to consult the fire department only about emergency response times and not balance this with the potential for lives saved due to the changes – slower roads, safer roads, and roads that protect vulnerable road users, this bill could result in more lives lost, which we are sure is not the intent of this bill.
AB 612 eventually died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 983 Vehicles: removal and impoundment
A SAFE Opposed Bill that has Died!
AB 983, introduced by Assemblymember Macedo, would have authorized a peace officer to establish reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle was used in a violation of the crime of speeding at 100 miles per hour, engaging in a speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway or in an off-street parking facility outside a police officer’s presence.
While SAFE supports vigorous enforcement of vehicle speed laws and the use of speed safety systems, it does not believe AB 983 provides sufficient safeguards, and the proposed amendments are likely unconstitutional. Allowing vehicles to be seized based solely on the use of speed cameras would likely constitute a Due Process violation under the 5th and/or 14th Amendments.
Likewise, the proposed amendment would likely constitute a violation of the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures since the seizure of private property must be based on probable cause that a crime has been committed.
AB 983 eventually died in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.