Bill > AB1097

This bill, by adding Section 14031.1 to the Government Code, allows state and local transit agencies to give preference to bidders who exceed the federal "Buy America" requirements for transit projects funded with federal money. The "Buy America" laws, including those for rolling stock like rail vehicles, generally require that a certain percentage of components be produced in the United States and that final assembly occurs domestically. This bill grants California agencies the discretion to implement their own preferences for domestic content beyond these federal minimums, which is important because federal regulations (specifically 49 C.F.R. 661.21) allow for such state-specific preferences but require them to be explicitly stated in state law for federal funding participation. The Department of General Services will be responsible for establishing policies for state agencies to use this new provision.