Bill > SB392

This bill authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and administer the East Bay Hills Conservation Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to protect and enhance the ecological, cultural, and recreational resources of the East Bay Hills region. The program covers approximately 30,000 acres across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, an area of significant environmental and historical importance, including ancestral lands of the Ohlone and Bay Miwok tribes. The bill enables the park district to collaborate with Native American tribes and local partners to restore wildlife habitats, preserve natural ecosystems, develop trails, improve public access, and address environmental challenges like erosion and carbon sequestration. The legislation specifically recognizes the East Bay Hills as an area of statewide significance, requiring local land use policy documents to acknowledge this status starting January 1, 2026. The bill highlights the region's ecological importance, including its role in wildlife corridors, habitat for endangered species, and climate resilience, and grants the park district expanded powers to acquire property, fund conservation projects, provide technical assistance to landowners, and implement wildlife connectivity measures. Importantly, the bill does not expand the district's local land use authority and includes provisions for state reimbursement if the implementation creates additional mandated costs for local agencies.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB392