CA AB1525

Requires the Transportation Agency, Department of Transportation, and California Transportation Commission to jointly develop criteria and evaluation process by July 1, 2025, to assess how transportation projects benefit priority populations, with input from at least three public listening sessions and a 30-day comment period.

Mandates that on or before July 1, 2026, and triennially thereafter, the three entities jointly establish that at least 60% of allocated transportation funds (excluding administrative costs) go to projects located in priority populations that address important needs and provide at least five direct, meaningful benefits to those communities.

Requires the entities to jointly submit annual reports to the Legislature starting July 1, 2026, evaluating how projects funded in the prior year impacted priority populations and met established criteria.

Prohibits counting moneys for projects that provide disbenefits (such as highway widening for single-occupancy vehicles or displacement) toward the 60% requirement for priority population projects.

Allows project proponents to petition for reevaluation using alternative information, including census data, if the initial evaluation was based on inaccurate or incomplete information.