California Assembly Bill AB1919

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/26
• Refer: 3/16/26
• Report Pass: 3/25/26
• Refer: 3/25/26
• Report Pass: 4/16/26
• Refer: 4/16/26
• Report Pass: 4/22/26
• Engrossed: 5/27/26
• Refer: 5/28/26
• Refer: 6/10/26

Caption

An act to add Sections 98290.1 and 98290.2 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

Impact

The bill mandates that any special election for a tax measure generated by the board or through a voter initiative must be consolidated with statewide general elections. This requirement is intended to streamline the election process and ensure greater participation from the electorate when deciding on vital funding measures for public transit. Furthermore, the county elections official will also oversee the administration of these ballot measures, providing a layer of governmental oversight.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1919, introduced by Assembly Members Pellerin and Addis, aims to amend the Public Utilities Code concerning the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. The bill explicitly allows for the imposition of special taxes by a qualified voter initiative, thereby expanding the avenues through which the district can secure funding. This means that in addition to the board of directors imposing taxes via ordinances approved at special elections, voters themselves can propose tax measures directly through initiatives, making the process more democratic and community-oriented.

Urgency

The bill is classified as an urgency statute, which means it is intended to take effect immediately upon passage. This classification underscores the urgency of addressing the financial viability of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District and aims to prevent any potential reductions in public transit services that could impact the local community negatively.

Contention

One notable aspect of AB 1919 is its inclusion of provisions related to state reimbursement for costs incurred by local agencies, specifically the County of Santa Cruz, when implementing the requirements of this bill. If deemed necessary by the Commission on State Mandates, the state would be responsible for reimbursing local entities for certain costs associated with the elections. This aspect may raise concerns regarding the financial implications on state resources and how it balances against the needs of local governance.