Audubon California’s top priorities at the state Capitol this year include ensuring birds have the water and lands they need, celebrating fifty years of the California Coastal Protection Act, and increasing access to nature for all.
Protecting Lands and Expanding Access to Nature for all
Audubon California believes in the importance of access to well-managed natural areas for all communities, whether for bird excursions, outdoor education programs, or the pure joy of experiencing nature. This session, Audubon California is sponsoring legislation to make access to nature more equitable and supporting several bills to expand protections and access on open space across the state.
Audubon California is co-sponsoring SB 1268 (Gonzalez) to codify Governor Newsom’s Outdoor for All initiative, which committed to expanding access to nature and its benefits for all Californians. Disadvantaged communities and communities of color disproportionately lack access to safe places to enjoy the outdoors and experience nature. Audubon believes all California residents should have equal access to appreciate nature and its benefits for our physical and mental health.
One of California’s best mechanisms for protecting habitats and open space is our network of state-chartered conservancies. In 2024, Audubon helped establish the Salton Sea Conservancy and this year we are strong supporters of AB 1108 (Cabarello), which would establish the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy, AB 2216 (Aguiar-Curry), which would expand the successful Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, and AB 1548 (Pellerin), which would establish the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority for the purpose of land protection and expanding access to nature in that region.
Audubon California remains extremely concerned about attacks on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), one of the state’s foundational environmental laws. According to the 2023 CEQA By the Numbers report, less than two percent of housing developments result in CEQA litigation. Recent adjustments to CEQA in recent years have further relaxed review standards for infill housing. In recent years, housing developers have raked in record profits (e.g., in 2024, two of California’s homebuilders, Lennar and the Pulte Group, posted record profits of $3.9 billion and $ 3.08 billion, respectively). Audubon California is emphasizing to decision-makers that affordable housing is possible without jeopardizing our shared environment and the opportunity to weigh in on projects that affect our communities.
Of particular concern is the recent CEQA exemption inserted into legislation last year that removed environmental accountability for advanced manufacturing facilities. “Advanced manufacturing” includes computer chip manufacturers, which have left the Silicon Valley with more toxic Superfund sites than anywhere in the U.S., and data centers, which require immense amounts of water and electricity. Audubon is supporting SB 887 (Padilla) to remove an exemption for approval of data centers in California and create an incentive so that centers meet environmental leadership development criteria.
Ensuring Water for Birds & People
Water and protecting wetland habitats are always top priorities for Audubon California. Because our state has lost over 90% of its wetland habitats since 1850, we’ve seen massive declines in many wetland-dependent bird species such as the Western Sandpiper, Tricolored Blackbird, and Sandhill Crane. Recent decisions by the US Supreme Court and other federal acts have further reduced protections for wetlands and put dozens of bird species at risk.
To ensure birds have the wetland habitats they need, Audubon California is sponsoring Assembly Bill 929 (Connolly), formerly AB 828, which would exempt managed wetlands and small community water systems from water allocation reductions under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA restrictions are already forcing managed wetland owners to reduce their footprint and many are expected to permanently close down. Once these wetlands go dry, birds will be left with even less habitat in the state and become even more vulnerable to drought.
Audubon California is also helping to lead a state budget request for $25 million from Proposition 4 to benefit wetlands, refuges, and wildlife areas in the Central Valley and the Klamath Basin. The funded projects have been identified by Audubon and its partners in the Central Valley Joint Venture as the best, shovel-ready investments to help wetland-dependent birds in California.
Audubon California is also supporting SB 601 (Allen), which provides a state backstop to prevent water pollution after recent rollbacks of protections under the federal Clean Water Act. Protecting the quantity and quality of freshwaters is essential for fish, birds, and future generations of Californians.
Celebrating 50 Years of Protecting California’s Coast
California has over 3400 miles of coastline, much of it home to iconic and vulnerable species such as the Western Snowy Plover, Surf Scoter, Marbled Murrelet, and Dunlin. Prior to the passage of the California Coastal Protection Act of 1976, the coastline was exceptionally vulnerable to unwise development and pollution, such as the massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara (that led to the creation of Earth Day). Audubon California is excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Protection Act of 1976 with advocacy and activities throughout the year, including support for state Assembly and Senate resolutions, ACR 149 and SCR 136 from Assemblymember Gregg Hart and Senator John Laird.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate 50 years of the Coastal Act and the benefits it has delivered to protect California’s 1,100-mile coastline, supporting millions of birds along the Pacific Flyway,” said Andrea Jones, Vice President of Audubon California. “Californians know our iconic coastline is more than a stunning view. Our coast supports vital habitat for sensitive shorebird species like the Western Snowy Plover, helps ensure coastal communities and visitors alike can access and enjoy nature, and supports healthy coastal ecosystems that can buffer shoreline communities from the impacts of climate change.”
Join Us This Legislative Session!
Beyond the priority bills identified here, Audubon California tracks and engages on dozens of bills and state budget proposals through the legislative season. We welcome questions and collaboration from chapters and other partners interested in working together to help birds and expand access to nature for everyone. Be sure to join our mailing list to stay in the know and updated on upcoming opportunities to share your voice
