20250SCR_013699INT INTRODUCED 2026-02-25 2025 SCR INT Introduced by Senator Laird (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Hart) (Coauthors: Senators Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Weber Pierson, and Wiener) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Bennett, Boerner, Connolly, Davies, Pellerin, Rogers, Schultz, Stefani, and Wallis) LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Laird PRINCIPAL_COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR SENATE Allen COAUTHOR SENATE Archuleta COAUTHOR SENATE Arreguín COAUTHOR SENATE Ashby COAUTHOR SENATE Becker COAUTHOR SENATE Blakespear COAUTHOR SENATE Cabaldon COAUTHOR SENATE Caballero COAUTHOR SENATE Cervantes COAUTHOR SENATE Cortese COAUTHOR SENATE Durazo COAUTHOR SENATE Gonzalez COAUTHOR SENATE Grayson COAUTHOR SENATE Limón COAUTHOR SENATE McGuire COAUTHOR SENATE McNerney COAUTHOR SENATE Menjivar COAUTHOR SENATE Padilla COAUTHOR SENATE Pérez COAUTHOR SENATE Reyes COAUTHOR SENATE Richardson COAUTHOR SENATE Rubio COAUTHOR SENATE Smallwood-Cuevas COAUTHOR SENATE Stern COAUTHOR SENATE Umberg COAUTHOR SENATE Wahab COAUTHOR SENATE Weber Pierson COAUTHOR SENATE Wiener COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis Relative to the California Coastal Act of 1976. the California Coastal Act of California Coastal Act of 1976.

This measure would acknowledge and celebrate 50 years of coastal protection and affirm the state’s longstanding commitment to protecting its coastal waters, as specified. NO

WHEREAS, In 1972, the people of California passed Proposition 20, the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act, establishing that protection of the California coast and ocean is a paramount concern to present and future residents of the state and nation; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, the Legislature passed the California Coastal Act and the State Coastal Conservancy Act, based on findings that the California coastal zone is a distinct and valuable natural resource of vital and enduring interest to all the people; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy were created to implement these respective statutes, including the shared mandate to maximize public access to and along the coast; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Act is the state’s regulatory and planning law that protects coastal and ocean resources while permitting and planning for orderly development and directing new growth toward urban centers within the coastal zone; and

WHEREAS, The State Coastal Conservancy Act established the state’s coastal land acquisition and conservation program to preserve agricultural lands, protect and restore coastal habitat, and empower local and regional nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribes to effectuate coastal restoration, protection, public access, and climate resilience projects in their communities; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Act creates a unique partnership between coastal local governments and the state through a land use planning framework that respects local control while ensuring statewide coastal protection policies are effectively carried out; and

WHEREAS, The State Coastal Conservancy was the first state conservancy in California and serves as an example of how effective partnerships maximize public investment in local and regional projects; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy have been profoundly effective at expanding public access, restoring critical habitats, and protecting natural and working lands throughout California’s coastal watersheds for the last 50 years; and

WHEREAS, The partnership between the California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy through their complementary authority has been responsible for the conservation of over 500,000 acres of natural lands as open space, the creation of more than 2,500 public accessways and easements to and along the coast, the restoration of more than 50,000 acres of coastal habitats, the designation and opening of 875 miles of the California Coastal Trail, and the investment of over $2 billion in coastal conservation, restoration, public access, and climate resilience all while supporting a thriving $51 billion coast and ocean economy; and

WHEREAS, The focus of the commission and the conservancy has evolved to meet new coastal challenges, including climate resilience, urban waterfront revitalization, equitable access to the coast, and efforts to protect against federal offshore oil drilling; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy, along with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, make up the state’s federally approved Coastal Management Program as authorized by the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.

Sec. 1451 et seq.), giving the state the unique and essential legal authority to review federal activities that affect coastal resources; and

WHEREAS, California’s Coastal Management Program is widely regarded as the strongest, most effective coastal management program in the country; and

WHEREAS, California’s coastal and ocean environment, economy, and national identity have been immeasurably enhanced by 50 years of bold, innovative, and balanced coastal protection; and

WHEREAS, The protection of California’s coastal and ocean resources requires continued vigilance against environmental threats, such as federal expansion of offshore oil drilling, sea level rise, and climate change; and

WHEREAS, The California Coastal Act provides the essential tools and policies necessary to guide coastal communities’ adaptation to climate-driven sea level rise, to help transition the state to environmentally sustainable ocean energy sources, and to foster inclusive and environmentally just coastal communities; and

WHEREAS, The State Coastal Conservancy Act ensures that all Californians are able to enjoy our iconic coastline and benefit from public investment in the permanent protection, restoration, and climate resilience of the coast;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That we hereby proudly acknowledge and celebrate 50 years of coastal protection; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature affirms the State of California’s longstanding commitment to protecting its coastal waters and recognizes the importance of carefully evaluating activities, including offshore oil and gas drilling and coastal development, to ensure consistency with the state’s coastal protection laws, climate goals, and the public trust in a clean and healthy coast; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature acknowledges the value of ecologically sound coastal protection combined with carefully planned development as essential to the economic and social well-being of the state for the next 50 years and beyond, and reaffirms the findings of our predecessors from that the permanent protection of the state’s natural and scenic coastal resources is a paramount concern to present and future residents of the state and nation; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.