Bill > SB392

This bill authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and administer the East Bay Hills Conservation Program, a comprehensive initiative focused on preserving and enhancing approximately 30,000 acres of ecologically significant land in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The program aims to restore wildlife habitat, improve recreational opportunities, protect natural ecosystems, and increase climate resilience by allowing the district to collaborate with California Native American tribes and other partners. The bill recognizes the East Bay Hills as an area of statewide cultural, historical, and environmental significance, highlighting its importance as a wildlife corridor, home to endangered species, and a critical landscape for carbon sequestration and watershed health. Starting January 1, 2026, local land use policy documents must acknowledge the East Bay Hills as an area of statewide significance. The district will have powers to acquire and manage land, undertake habitat restoration projects, provide technical conservation assistance, and implement wildlife connectivity measures. While granting these capabilities, the bill explicitly states that it does not expand the district's local land use authority. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill imposes state-mandated costs, local agencies will be reimbursed according to existing government procedures.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

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