Senator Cortese’s 2026 Legislative Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I’m pleased to share an important legislative update: several of my Senate Bill proposals have cleared a critical hurdle and were approved by the California Assembly Appropriations Committee.

This action moves these measures one step closer to becoming law and reflects continued momentum for legislation addressing some of California’s most pressing challenges.

The bills advancing include:

  • SB 685 – Expanding Educational Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
    SB 685 would align California law with recent court decisions by allowing qualified religious schools to seek to serve students with disabilities. We should never make families choose between the specialized education their child needs and the school environment that best reflects their values. SB 685 gives families more options while holding every school to the same rigorous standards for student safety, accountability, and educational quality.
     
  • SB 750  - Unlocking Affordable Housing Financing Solutions
    California is facing a severe housing shortage, yet nearly 600,000 low-income and moderate-income homes remain stalled in the construction pipeline awaiting financing. SB 750 would establish a credit enhancement program at the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) and require a comprehensive assessment of how credit enhancements can reduce borrowing costs and unlock additional investment in housing.
     
  • SB 1246 – Accountability, Transparency, and Emergency Response Standards for Autonomous Vehicles
    As autonomous vehicles continue to expand across California, SB 1246 ensures that public safety and emergency response keep pace with the technology. The bill would improve remote AV operations, require stronger communication between AV companies and first responders, and give local emergency personnel the tools they need to respond when autonomous vehicles are in a crash, become disabled, obstruct traffic, or interfere with emergency operations.
     
  • SB 1250 – Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Prevention
    Every year, thousands of Californians are involved in crashes with wildlife, putting drivers, passengers, and our state's wildlife at risk. SB 1250 strengthens coordination between transportation agencies, wildlife experts, and local stakeholders to identify high-risk areas and support solutions that protect motorists while preserving critical wildlife corridors.
     
  • SB 1306 – Aligning State Law with Federal Regulations on Semiconductor Manufacturing
    SB 1306 is a common-sense measure that removes unnecessary regulatory barriers while preserving critical public safety protections. By aligning state law with longstanding federal standards, we're supporting one of California's most important industries, protecting high-paying jobs, and strengthening our state's global competitiveness.
     
  • SB 1375 – Modernizing Transit Hubs Like San Jose’s Diridon Station by Establishing a Targeted California Environmental Quality Act Exemption
    Diridon Station is more than a train station, it's the future transportation gateway for Silicon Valley and all of Northern California. This project will bring together High-Speed Rail, Caltrain, BART, VTA, Amtrak, ACE, and Capitol Corridor into a single world-class transit hub. If we're serious about reducing congestion, building more housing near transit, growing our economy, and meeting our climate goals, we cannot allow unnecessary delays to stand in the way. SB 1375 speeds up this transformational project forward while preserving California's strong environmental protections.
     
  • SB 1392 – Smog Exemptions for Qualifying Classic and Collectible Cars
    Otherwise referred to as “Jay Leno’s Law,” SB 1392 would provide smog-check exemptions for qualifying vehicles manufactured between 1976 and 1985 that are carefully maintained and primarily operated for parades, car shows, exhibitions, and charitable events.
     
  • SB 1425 – Cutting the Red Tape Along the High-Speed Rail Corridor
    California cannot afford to let legal ambiguity and unnecessary red tape slow down critical infrastructure. SB 1425 creates a clear, common-sense permitting process that protects the high-speed rail system while allowing essential projects—from utilities and broadband to water and other infrastructure—to move forward.

I’m grateful to the advocates, stakeholders, community members, and legislative partners who have helped move these proposals forward. While there is still work ahead, clearing Assembly Appropriations is a significant step toward delivering meaningful results for our communities and for California.

In addition, I am proud to announce that Governor Newsom has already signed one of my proposals, Senate Bill 33, which would eliminate the January 1, 2027 sunset date for Public Contracts, preserving a proven framework that has reduced costly litigation, prevented project delays, and improved delivery of critical infrastructure projects throughout California for nearly a decade. 

I look forward to continuing to fight for these important proposals as they move through the final stages of the legislative process and as they are referred to the Governor’s desk for his signature. 

 

Sincerely,

Dave Cortese
California State Senator
Senate District 15