This measure would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46, as described, in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those plaques and makers.

This measure would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46, as described, in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those plaques and makers.

This measure would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46, as described, in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

WHEREAS, James Byron Dean, one of the most admired movie stars of all time and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, He is best known for his roles in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant, and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play; and

WHEREAS, As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a years time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s; and

WHEREAS, He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event; and

WHEREAS, Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and it is appropriate to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature, through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002), designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the designation in honor of James Dean made by Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002) designating the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction is hereby rescinded; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is hereby requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering this cost, to erect those plaques and markers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author of this resolution for distribution.

WHEREAS, James Byron Dean, one of the most admired movie stars of all time and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, He is best known for his roles in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant, and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play; and

WHEREAS, As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a years time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s; and

WHEREAS, He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event; and

WHEREAS, Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and it is appropriate to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature, through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002), designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the designation in honor of James Dean made by Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002) designating the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction is hereby rescinded; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is hereby requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering this cost, to erect those plaques and markers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author of this resolution for distribution.

WHEREAS, James Byron Dean, one of the most admired movie stars of all time and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, He is best known for his roles in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant, and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play; and

WHEREAS, As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a years time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s; and

WHEREAS, He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event; and

WHEREAS, Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and it is appropriate to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature, through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002), designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the designation in honor of James Dean made by Senate Concurrent Resolution 52 (Resolution Chapter 107 of the Statutes of 2002) designating the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction is hereby rescinded; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is hereby requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering this cost, to erect those plaques and markers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author of this resolution for distribution.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: ACR 101

Author: Addis (D)

Introduced: 6/24/25

Vote: 21

SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 12-0, 4/7/26

AYES: Cortese, Strickland, Archuleta, Arreguín, Blakespear, Gonzalez, Grayson, Menjivar, Richardson, Seyarto, Valladares, Wiener

NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 8/25/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: James Dean Memorial Highway

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo from Cholame to Antelope Road as the James Dean Memorial Highway.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law assigns the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways, including the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

Senate Transportation Committee Policy:

The Senate Transportation Committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following criteria:

1. The person being honored must have provided extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution to the public good and have a connection to the community where the highway or structure is located.
2. The person being honored must be deceased or a former elected public official who has been out of office for at least 25 years.
3. The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
4. The author or co-author of the resolution must represent the district in which the facility is located, and the resolution must identify the specific highway segment or structure being named.
5. The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles in length.
6. The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus and be without local opposition.
7. The proposed designation may not supersede an existing designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior designation.

This resolution:

1. Recounts the life and career of James Dean.
2. Rescinds the designation in honor of James Dean made by SCR 52 (O’Connell, Chapter 107, Statutes of 2002) designating the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction.
3. Designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway.
4. Requests Caltrans to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect those signs.

Comments

1. Purpose of the resolution. According to the author, “ACR 101 would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. James Dean’s legacy has been significant to American pop culture and defined rebellious, countercultural attitudes for generations. On the Central Coast, James Dean will be remembered for award-winning roles in films such as East of Eden, which celebrates our region. Although his life was tragically cut short by a car accident in San Luis Obispo County, his memory and contributions will live on.”
2. Background. James Byron Dean, an admired movie star and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is best known for his roles in “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant,” and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play. As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a year’s time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s.

James Dean was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event. Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and this resolution seeks to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death.

The Legislature, through the adoption of SCR 52 (O’Connell, Chapter 107, Statutes of 2002), designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction. This resolution would rescind SCR 52 and instead designate the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway.

1. Consistent with Senate Transportation Committee policy. This resolution is consistent with committee policy.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 4/20/26)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/20/26)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 8/25/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Bains, Bonta, Chen, Dixon

Prepared by: Isabelle LaSalle / TRANS. / (916) 651-4121

4/21/26 16:19:33

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Senator Dave Cortese, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: 4/7/2026

SUBJECT:

DIGEST: This resolution designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo from Cholame to Antelope Road as the James Dean Memorial Highway.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Assigns the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways, including the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

Committee Policy:

The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following criteria:

1. The person being honored must have provided extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution to the public good and have a connection to the community where the highway or structure is located.
2. The person being honored must be deceased or a former elected public official who has been out of office for at least 25 years.
3. The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
4. The author or co-author of the resolution must represent the district in which the facility is located, and the resolution must identify the specific highway segment or structure being named.
5. The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles in length.
6. The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus and be without local opposition.
7. The proposed designation may not supersede an existing designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior designation.

This resolution:

1. Recounts the life and career of James Dean.
2. Rescinds the designation in honor of James Dean made by SCR 52 (O’Connell, Chapter 107, Statutes of 2002) designating the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction.
3. Designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway.
4. Requests Caltrans to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect those signs.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose of the resolution. According to the author, “ACR 101 would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. James Dean’s legacy has been significant to American pop culture and defined rebellious, countercultural attitudes for generations. On the Central Coast, James Dean will be remembered for award-winning roles in films such as East of Eden, which celebrates our region. Although his life was tragically cut short by a car accident in San Luis Obispo County, his memory and contributions will live on.”
2. Background. James Byron Dean, an admired movie star and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is best known for his roles in “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant,” and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play. As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a year’s time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s.

He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event. Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and this resolution seeks to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death.

The Legislature, through the adoption of SCR 52 (O’Connell, Chapter 107, Statutes of 2002), designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction. This resolution would rescind SCR 52 and instead designate the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway.

1. Consistent with committee policy. This resolution is consistent with committee policy.

Related/PREVIOUS Legislation:

SCR 52 (O’Connell, Chapter 107, Statutes of 2002) – Designated the junction of State Highway Route 41 and State Highway Route 46 near Cholame in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Junction.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.)

SUPPORT:

None received.

OPPOSITION:

None received.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:ACR 101

Author:(Addis)

As Introduced Ver:June 24, 2025

Majority Vote

SUMMARY

This measure would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46, as described, in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

COMMENTS

James Byron Dean, one of the most admired movie stars of all time and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana.

He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is best known for his roles in ″East of Eden,″ ″Rebel Without a Cause,″ and ″Giant,″ and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play.

As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a year′s time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s.

He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event.

Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and it is appropriate to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death.

According to the Author

″ACR 101 would designate a portion of State Highway Route 46, in the County of San Luis Obispo as the James Dean Memorial Highway. James Dean′s legacy has been significant to American pop culture and defined rebellious, countercultural attitudes for generations. On the Central Coast, James Dean will be remembered for award-winning roles in films such as East of Eden, which celebrates our region. Although his life was tragically cut short by a car accident in San Luis Obispo County, his memory and contributions will live on.″

Arguments in Support

No support on file.

Arguments in Opposition

No opposition on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans determine the cost of appropriate signage consistent with requirements for the state highway system, and only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

VOTES

ASM TRANSPORTATION: 16-0-0

YES: Wilson, Davies, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Carrillo, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Jackson, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, Papan, Ransom, Rogers, Ward

UPDATED

VERSION: June 24, 2025

CONSULTANT: Aimee Anspach / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0001135

Date of Hearing: July 14, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Lori D. Wilson, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 101 (

Author:Addis) – As Introduced Ver:June 24, 2025

SUBJECT: James Dean Memorial Highway

SUMMARY: Designates the portion of State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo, from Cholame, at postmile 54.038, to Antelope Road, at postmile 58.300, as the James Dean Memorial Highway and requests that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans determine the cost of appropriate signage consistent with requirements for the state highway system, and only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

COMMENTS:  James Byron Dean, one of the most admired movie stars of all time and an icon of American culture, was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana.

He later moved to California and attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is best known for his roles in “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant,” and he also appeared on television shows and in a Broadway play.

As a successful actor, he attained cult status in little more than a year’s time, personifying the restless American youth of the mid-1950s.

He was tragically killed on September 30, 1955, in an automobile crash on State Highway Route 46 in the County of San Luis Obispo while traveling in his automobile on the way to a racing event.

Many decades after his death, James Dean remains widely admired as an accomplished actor, and it is appropriate to recognize his contributions through a designation of a memorial highway near the site of his untimely death.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Aimee Anspach / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093