CaliforniaCalifornia law extends one-stop state approval for habitat restoration projects to 2032 and adds species protection steps
A new California law extends until January 1, 2032 the Department of Fish and Wildlife's single approval for habitat restoration projects, and changes the application, species protection, and fee rules.
What it does
The habitat restoration approval program, now set to end January 1, 2027, would continue until January 1, 2032, with a department report to the Legislature by December 31, 2029.
The definition of a qualifying project and the application contents are revised, and the department takes over the director's duties under the Act.
Approval would cover harm only to species the sponsor lists, and the department must make sure each approved project includes measures to avoid and reduce harm to protected species.
Application fees would keep following the department's existing fees until it sets its own fee schedule by January 1, 2030, capped at its reasonable costs.
The department would no longer publish certain application information in the state notice register, and the provisions requiring it to suspend certain projects would be removed.
Argument forExtending the approval could keep faster, single-agency review available for restoration projects that improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
Argument againstRemoving public notice publishing and project suspension provisions may reduce public visibility and the ability to pause approved projects.
More detail
The Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act would stay in effect until January 1, 2032, and the department would report on how it is working. The Act lets a project sponsor seek the department's approval for a project whose main purpose is improving habitat. The report must cover the number, type, and location of approved projects, funding adequacy, and recommended changes. The Act ends January 1, 2032, and the report is due by December 31, 2029.
The bill would change who qualifies and what an application must include, and would give the department the director's duties. A qualifying project must mainly improve habitat for native fish, wildlife, or plant species and meet the State Water Resources Control Board's small habitat restoration certification requirements. Applications include project design, an area assessment with photos, any surveys, species that may be taken, protection measures, and a CEQA statement. The department must approve or deny within 60 days, or 30 days for projects that already have the water board certification.
Department approval would authorize harm to only the species the project sponsor listed, and the department must make sure each approved project has measures to avoid and limit harm to protected species. It applies to every project approved under the Act. Approval still stands in place of other department permits, agreements, licenses, and approvals. Sponsors must list the species that may be taken, the type of take, and how it would occur.
Until the department sets its own fee schedule, application fees would match its other fees under its streambed alteration rules. The department must set a fee schedule for approval requests, which may be graduated. Fees may not exceed the department's reasonable costs for the projects. After the schedule is set, fees are adjusted every year. The fee schedule is due on or before January 1, 2030.
The bill would end the public notice publishing step for certified projects and the provisions that required suspending a project. The notice step applied to projects with the water board certification. The suspension provisions applied under certain circumstances.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 29Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 818, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 29Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6577.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2045 Connolly Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2045 Connolly By Becker. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 6Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 6From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 23From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- May 21In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2045 Connolly Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 5218.)Passed Assembly
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 20Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 16Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
- Feb 17Read first time. To print.Introduced
Environment & Energy