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AB 128

Creates the Public Records Task Force. (BDR S-400)

2025 Regular Session

Temporary exclusive use of HOV/HOT lanes for Olympic/Paralympic route vehicles during Games, with ID verification, plus a $1,000 Caltrans grant and budget flexibility.

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 228.
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Bill Summary · AB 128

AB 128 — Transportation (Committee on Budget) — Bill Summary

Status: Re‑referred to Senate Committee on Budget & Fiscal Review (re‑referred 2025‑07‑02)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Classification: Appropriation / Budget-related bill

Purpose / Intent

AB 128 makes a set of transportation‑related statutory adjustments tied to the Budget Act of 2025. The bill (1) provides limited budgetary flexibility for the Department of Transportation (Caltrans); (2) reauthorizes a DMV private‑partner transaction fee for a limited period; (3) delays several DMV and driver‑license related policy changes to later operative dates or makes operative dates negotiable; (4) authorizes temporary special use of HOV and other lanes for Olympic/Paralympic Games route vehicles; and (5) appropriates a small amount to support the games route network.

Key provisions

  • Caltrans budget adjustments (new Government Code section 13084):

    • Authorizes the Department of Finance (DOF) to increase or decrease funding in Caltrans’ capital outlay support program by using funds made available from both the annual Budget Act and any other appropriation, provided the combined adjustments net to $0.
    • DOF may authorize such adjustments not sooner than 30 days after notifying the chairpersons of specified legislative committees in writing that the adjustment is necessary.

  • DMV private‑partner transaction fee:

    • Reimplements the existing $1 per‑transaction fee charged to qualified private industry partners that provide electronic DMV services (registration/titling processing/payment) beginning July 1, 2025.
    • Fee continues until the DMV director determines sufficient funds have been received to pay for departmentwide system improvements, or December 31, 2028, whichever occurs first.

  • Driver licensing and examinations:

    • Postpones several changes otherwise scheduled to become operative on January 1, 2027 (relating to class C towing allowances and solicitation/enrollment to the National Marrow Donor Program). Those towing provisions are instead made operative January 1, 2029.
    • Removes the statutory January 1, 2027 operative date for DMV electronic applicant solicitations for marrow registry enrollment and requires DMV to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to agree on an operative date.

  • Penalties for motor vehicle exhibitions of speed:

    • Delays the commencement of a court’s additional authority (originally effective July 1, 2025) to suspend or restrict driving privileges for exhibition‑of‑speed convictions from July 1, 2025 to January 1, 2029; conforms related provisions.

  • Olympic/Paralympic games lane use (temporary, until Jan 1, 2029):

    • Authorizes Caltrans and local authorities to temporarily permit exclusive or preferential use of HOV lanes, HOT lanes, and other lanes for vehicles displaying a distinctive decal/label/identifier issued by Olympic/Paralympic organizers when operated on the games route network during Games periods.
    • Requires Caltrans, in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), to approve the identifier and to require a serial/ID number to verify lawful use.
    • Appropriates $1,000 to Caltrans to fund projects supporting the games route network and authorizes DOF to augment that amount as specified.

  • Effective date / budget bill language:

    • Declares the bill takes effect immediately as an appropriation bill connected to the Budget Act and expresses legislative intent to enact related statutory changes in the Budget Act of 2025.

Who is affected

  • Caltrans and DOF — new limited budget adjustment authority and reporting requirements.
  • Department of Motor Vehicles — fee collection, system funding timeline, and timeline/MOU requirements for donor registry solicitations.
  • Private industry DMV partners — subject to a $1 transaction fee during the reimplemented period.
  • Drivers (particularly those towing larger trailers), courts, and motorists affected by changes to license suspension/restriction authority and towing classification effective dates.
  • HOV/HOT lane users, local transportation authorities, and Olympic/Paralympic Games organizers — temporary lane access and management during Games periods.
  • California Highway Patrol — coordination role in approving Games identifiers.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Direct appropriation: $1,000 to Caltrans (with DOF authority to augment).
  • Net fiscal effects beyond the appropriation may include DMV fee receipts (charged to private partners) and administrative costs related to DOF/Caltrans/CHP actions; bill was referred to fiscal committees (fiscal committee: yes).
  • Legislative progress: Introduced Jan 8, 2025; passed Assembly (3/20/2025); advanced in Senate committees with amendments; most recently re‑referred to Senate Budget & Fiscal Review (7/02/2025).

Considerations / Impacts

  • Provides DOF and Caltrans short‑term budget flexibility to align capital outlay support funding with project needs, with legislative notice.
  • Reinstates a limited‑term charge on private DMV vendors that could be passed through in vendor pricing or operations.
  • Delays several DMV policy changes until 2029 or until mutually agreed dates, affecting motorists, licensing procedures, and enforcement timelines.
  • Temporarily permits special lane access for Games vehicles, requiring administrative approvals and verification controls to limit misuse.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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