Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends the High-Speed Rail Authority's business plan to focus on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment in California.

Highlights:

• Requires the High Speed Rail Authority to provide a detailed funding plan for the Merced to Bakersfield segment that includes an estimate of the funding gap (Sec 1).

• Requires a strategy for addressing the funding gap that must include (Sec 1):

• An itemized list of anticipated funds and sources of funding;

• A timeline of each source of funding and when funds must be received to meet the Authority’s schedule for segment completion;

• The estimated project delays that could result if any funding fails to materialize;

• A discussion of how work could be resequenced to minimize delays; and

• An assessment of the likelihood that each proposed source of funding will materialize and the ways in which risk could be mitigated.

• Requires the funding plan to be submitted on or before May 1, 2026 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text