CaliforniaOutdoor public recreation spaces: equitable access.
What it does
Existing law establishes the Natural Resources Agency, which consists of various departments, including the Department of Conservation, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law vests in the Natural Resources Agency various powers, including those related to conservation of lands.
More detail
By Executive Order No. N-82-20, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the Natural Resources Agency to combat the biodiversity and climate crises by, among other things, establishing the California Biodiversity Collaborative and conserving at least 30% of the state's lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the goal to conserve 30% of California's lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law provides that it is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California's lands and coastal waters by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal.
Existing law establishes the Equitable Outdoor Access Act (act), which sets forth the state's commitment to ensuring all Californians can benefit from, and have meaningful access to, the state's rich cultural and natural resources. Existing law declares that it is state policy, among other things, to ensure that all Californians have equitable opportunities to safe and affordable access to nature and access to the benefits of nature, and to prevent and minimize the intentional and unwarranted limitation of sustainable public access to public lands, where appropriate, including, but not limited to, local, regional, state, and federal parks, rivers, lakes, beaches, forests, mountain ranges, deserts, and other natural landscapes. Existing law requires specified state agencies to consider and incorporate, as appropriate, the state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, or grant criteria, or making expenditures, as specified. Existing law requires all state agencies implementing the above-described state policy to do so in a manner consistent with the mission of their agency and that protects the health and safety of the public and conserves natural and cultural resources.
This bill would establish the Outdoors for All initiative, to be administered by the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with specified state entities, to advance the objectives of the act and to implement and update specified priorities, including, among other related priorities, establishing outdoor public recreation spaces, as defined, connecting people and the outdoors, and aligning funding to achieve the initiative's goals, as specified. The bill would require the agency to report, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the initiative's goals, as specified.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 29Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 822, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 29Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5945.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1268 Gonzalez et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1268 Gonzalez Senate Third Reading By Bryan. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 6612.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 30Coauthors revised.
- Jun 29
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 16Coauthors revised.
- May 26Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and NAT. RES.Minor
- May 19In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 18Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4320.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4271.) (May 14).Minor
- May 12Set for hearing May 14.
- May 11May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4Set for hearing May 11.
- Apr 23Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3981.) (April 21).Major
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10Set for hearing April 21.
- Apr 8Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- Mar 23From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Mar 4Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 23Read first time.Minor
- Feb 23From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
- Feb 20Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced