Photo by SFMTA Photography Department
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several bills into law this month that the Transportation Authority Board has taken a support position on, advancing key priorities in transportation safety, funding, and sustainability.
Senate Bill 63, San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation funding (Wiener, Arreguín)
Governor Newsom signed SB 63, known as the "Connect Bay Area Act," on October 13.
SB 63 would authorize a multi-county regional transportation funding measure for the November 2026 election, allowing voters to consider approving a sales tax program that would support transit operations and capital as well as customer experience enhancements for a 14-year term. SB 63 was the Transportation Authority’s top priority and represents a critical opportunity to address the Bay Area's pressing transit operations funding needs through a coordinated regional approach. It was informed by a five-county staff working group, which provided technical assistance to the bill authors, and features accountability, oversight, and cost efficiency provisions.
The ballot measure, if approved by voters, is estimated to generate about $1 billion annually for Muni, BART, AC Transit, Caltrain, and other transportation agencies.
The bill would also support rider-focused improvements, including fare programs, accessibility programs, transit priority, and regional mapping/wayfinding initiatives.
Revenues are anticipated to be generated by a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, along with a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco County. For reference, a sales tax of one percent in San Francisco County would increase San Francisco’s sales tax rate from 8.625% to 9.625%.
See full SB 63 bill text
Senate Bill 71, California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions: environmental leadership transit projects (Wiener)
SB 71 was signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 13. Among other things, this legislation makes permanent and extends the sunset date for certain existing California Environmental Quality Act exemptions for specified types of public transportation projects, with a focus on sustainability and zero-emission technologies. These changes will help California better meet its climate goals by streamlining the approval process for sustainable transportation projects.
See full SB 71 bill text
Assembly Bill 1085, License plates: obstruction or alteration (Stefani)
Governor Newsom signed AB 1085 into law on October 1. The bill prohibits manufacturing and sale of devices that shield license plates from detection. These devices include tinted covers, shades, flippers, and other obstructions used to evade tolling and traffic enforcement systems. The measure increases associated fines and expands the scope of existing prohibitions to address a growing source of toll revenue loss and enforcement challenges.
See full AB 1085 bill text
Assembly Bill 1532, Public Utilities Commission (Committee on Communications and Conveyance)
Governor Newsom signed AB 1532, introduced by the Committee on Communications and Conveyance, into law on October 1. Among other things, the bill extends the requirement for the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, to establish and fund the Transportation Network Company Access for All program until January 1, 2032. This enables CPUC to extend its current 10 cent per ride charge for each completed ride-hail trip. The Transportation Network Company Access for All program increases the availability of on-demand transportation for persons with disabilities, including wheelchair users. SFMTA uses the revenues from San Francisco trips to support its wheelchair accessible services.
See full AB 1532 bill text