(The Center Square) – A proposal designed to maintain certain California high-speed rail documents as private was approved by the Assembly on Monday afternoon, further intensifying concerns among some legislators who have already expressed skepticism toward the project.$126.2 billion project.
Assembly Bill 1608Empowers the high-speed rail’s inspector general to withhold some reports from public access. The legislation would also permit the inspector general to conceal portions of specific reports if the information exposes vulnerabilities that could endanger the high-speed rail initiative.
The measure was approved by a vote of 45 to 18 and is now moving to the Senate.
When the office of the high-speed rail inspector general was established, the Legislature did not add requirements that would mandate the office to release its reports publicly or provide safeguards to ensure the inspector general could maintain confidentiality, for a certain period, of information that might jeopardize the state,” Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Democrat from Suisun City and the bill’s sponsor, stated on the Assembly floor. “Initially, concerns were expressed that this bill would keep information secret. In reality, this bill does the complete opposite.
The legislation would require the high-speed rail inspector general to make their reports available to the public, something that is not currently mandated by law, according to Wilson during a speech in the Assembly. Additionally, the bill does not provide the inspector general with protections that are already in place for other state agencies, such as the state auditor and other inspector general offices.
Nevertheless, critics mentioned during Monday’s Assembly floor session that the bill is an anti-transparency measure disguised as legislation aimed at enhancing transparency.
This project is the most costly infrastructure initiative taking place globally,” Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Fresno, stated during a discussion on the Assembly floor. “I believe the public should have full openness. This legislation would permit secrecy while we attempt to obtain funding.
Nevertheless, certain legislators expressed their backing for AB 1608, arguing that the law might draw in more suitable candidates for vacant positions within the inspector general’s office and ensure transparency by making the inspector general’s reports accessible to the public.
You are aware that there are specific infrastructure projects where the public will participate, and if certain details are disclosed, it might actually endanger the public,” said Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat from Moreno Valley, in favor of the bill. “The real purpose of this bill is to accomplish something that currently doesn’t exist, which is that the inspector general wouldn’t have to release the reports publicly. This bill states that we believe these reports should be made public.
Jackson noted that exceptions to the public records requirement include security procedures, the construction methods, the project’s vulnerabilities, and ways to identify fraud.
The High-Speed Rail Authority failed to meet the Friday deadline for submitting its final 2026 business plan. This report must contain details regarding funding shortfalls in the Merced-to-Bakersfield portion of the project, as well as the agency’s strategy for securing the necessary funds for this section. Officials from the department stated on Friday that additional time was required to complete the report, and they now anticipate a publication date in June.draft business planwas released by the organization in February.
Now we have a bill that would allow the inspector general’s office to keep any audit secret if they believe it could endanger the project,” said Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, opposing the bill. “If the state is investing billions of taxpayer dollars into a project that is way behind schedule, I believe taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being used. Instead, this legislation aims to conceal that information, to protect appearances and ensure the project moves forward without interruption.
