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Legislation by Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) to save off-highway vehicle (OHV) competitions in California was approved by wide bipartisan votes in both the Assembly (71 - 2) and Senate (40 - 0) this week.
“The passage of this bill completes an extensive, three year bipartisan legislative effort to save OHV competitions in California,” stated Senator Brian W. Jones. “We worked with many stakeholders to craft the comprehensive consensus solution that SB 894 contains.”
Senate Bill 894 will create a new registration program for off-highway vehicle competition vehicles that is narrowly tailored for legitimate competitors only.
Competition OHVs have long been regulated through the Red Sticker program under the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This program has allowed competition OHVs to operate in the state for the past two decades. However, the Red Sticker program ended last year with no program to replace it.
Without a new program, OHV competitions on public lands have been thrown into confusion with reports of some competitors still getting Red Stickers and permission to compete while others have not. This uncertainty negatively impacts local businesses, jobs, and the economy of many rural and suburban regions that have long hosted competitions. Additionally, funding for environmental work and law enforcement has also been lost.
SB 894 is cosponsored by the Coalition for Public Access and the California Motorcycle Dealers Association, and is supported by the American Motorcyclist Association, California Wilderness Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, Motorcycle Industry Council, Off Road Vehicle Legislative Coalition, Sacramento Pacific International Trails Society, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Tuleyome, and Yuba County.
Governor Newsom has until September 30th to sign SB 894.