On August 27, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 922 (Laird) into law. RCRC, in coalition with public agency partners, supported the measure, which reaffirms long-standing local authority related to the recovery of street maintenance and repair costs associated with providing essential public services.
Specifically, SB 922 will clarify that restrictions on local road charges apply only to weight-based charges imposed for the privilege of using streets or highways. The bill makes clear that local governments may recover the cost of street maintenance and repair associated with providing public services.
Essential public services, including garbage, recycling, and green waste collection, rely on the regular use of local streets by heavy service vehicles. These vehicles provide critical public health and environmental benefits.
Cities and counties have long been able to recover the cost of maintaining streets used to deliver essential services from waste haulers. These practices are familiar, predictable, and transparent for both local governments, service providers, and residents. Importantly, these assessments help ensure that streets remain safe and functional for the delivery of services communities rely on every day.
A recent court decision, Rogers v. City of Redlands, undermined this practice by determining that road repair costs recovered through solid waste rates violated an unrelated section of the vehicle code. As a result, cities and counties risked losing those vital revenue streams and are facing litigation regarding those existing cost recovery mechanisms.
RCRC supported SB 922 because it will restore clarity, reduce litigation risk, and provide certainty for all parties involved. RCRC joined the League of California Cities (CalCities) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) to co-sponsor SB 922.
SB 922 will take effect on January 1, 2027. RCRC’s letter to the Governor requesting his signature on SB 922 can be found HERE.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy.