As part of our role in advancing state parks issues for the last decade, California State Parks Foundation has provided leadership in lobbying the California legislature on relevant bills and budget actions as well as proactively sponsoring legislation. We have sponsored legislation to achieve park protection as well as facilitate fiscal sustainability for the state park system.
In addition to sponsoring legislation, we also maintain regular communication with key policy committee members and provide testimony to legislative hearings, and coordinate with other like-minded organizations on policy priorities. You can see our 2025-2026 priority bills and budget items for the 2025-2026 legislative session below, and see past legislative priorities here.
Priority bills and budget items for 2025-2026 Legislative Session
This bill would allow California State Parks to, at its discretion, distribute passes to the California State Library free of charge, to support the California State Library Parks Pass program.
Extends the California Migratory Bird Protection Act indefinitely, protecting endangered nongame migratory birds.
This bill makes amendments to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which declares it the policy of the state to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2045. Under the Act, the Natural Resources Agency is required to update a plan every five years, and to integrate targets for natural carbon sequestration into the plan. The bill would specify that it is the goal of the state to achieve those targets.
This bill would designate Bigfoot as the official state cryptid.
This bill would exempt property acquired by California State Parks for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks from the requirement that such properties must be acquired first by the State Public Works Board.
This bill would require updates in the annual "Pathways to 30x30" report prepared by the Natural Resources Agency for the legislature, to include additional recommendations to improve stewardship of 30x30 lands.
This bill would require transportation planning agencies to consider the impacts of development, and the barriers caused by transportation infrastructure and development, to wildlife and habitat connectivity.
This bill extends required funding ($30 million annually) for the Habitat Conservation Fund indefinitely.
This bill would establish the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the official state snake.
This bill would require all state agencies to consider the 30x30 goal when adopting, revising, or establishing plans, policies, or regulations, and ensure that the plan, policy, or regulation under consideration is not inconsistent with the 30x30 goal.