San Diego City Wire

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones announced that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 708 into law. The bill, which passed unanimously through both houses of the Legislature, aims to preserve off-highway vehicle (OHV) competitions in California.

"I’m thrilled that Governor Newsom signed our bipartisan Senate Bill 708 into law, effectively saving OHV competitions in California," said Leader Jones. He highlighted the five-year collaboration with stakeholders and government agencies to develop this program, emphasizing its importance to California's history and future.

SB 708 introduces a special permit for operating certain off-road motorcycles at sanctioned events. It replaces the Red Sticker registration program, which ended in 2021, with a new event permit program for competition motorcycles. This measure will provide an identification decal for display on competition motorcycles during sanctioned events on public lands.

"As an avid motorcycle enthusiast, it was important to me that our competition OHV program balances safety, responsibility, and environmentalism while allowing these competitions to continue to be a strong part of recreational economies across the state," added Leader Jones.

The previous regulation under the Red Sticker program allowed competition OHVs to operate in California for two decades but left a void when it ended without replacement. This absence created confusion as rules varied by land managers across the state, affecting local businesses and economies reliant on these competitions.

SB 708 is backed by various conservation advocacy organizations and local businesses and sponsored by the Coalition for Public Access. It marks Leader Jones's fourth attempt at resolving issues surrounding OHV competitions after previous bills faced legislative hurdles or vetoes due to fiscal concerns.

In addition to SB 708, Governor Newsom signed two other measures authored by Leader Jones: Senate Bill 1048 and Senate Bill 1225. SB 1048 provides flexibility for local planning departments by clarifying site plan requirements, while SB 1225 aims to streamline records under the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.

SB 708 will take effect on January 1, 2025.