Bill > SB392

This bill authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and administer the East Bay Hills Conservation Program, a comprehensive initiative to protect and preserve approximately 30,000 acres of ecologically significant land in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The program aims to restore wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities, preserve natural ecosystems, and enhance climate resilience in the East Bay Hills, which are recognized as the ancestral lands of the Ohlone and Bay Miwok tribes. The bill empowers the district to collaborate with California Native American tribes and other partners to acquire and manage land, undertake habitat restoration projects, provide technical assistance to landowners, and implement wildlife connectivity measures. Additionally, the bill requires that the East Bay Hills be acknowledged as an area of statewide significance in local planning documents starting January 1, 2026, and mandates that developers provide notice to the district about proposed projects converting natural lands in the area. The legislation highlights the region's ecological importance, including its role in supporting endangered species, providing critical wildlife corridors, and offering recreational spaces for residents and visitors. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill imposes state-mandated costs, local agencies will be reimbursed according to existing state procedures.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

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