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Sep 29, 2026

As Trump targets public lands, Governor Newsom expands free state parks access, announces record conservation progress, and signs legislation protecting California's coast and wildlife

Governor signs conservation legislative package as California adds 1 million conserved acres to world-leading 30×30 effort

What you need to know: As the Trump administration attempts to open a portion of Yosemite National Park to private development, weakens protections for public lands and wildlife, and threatens California's coast with expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a conservation package protecting California's coast, wildlife and outdoor access, while announcing the state's largest annual increase in conserved lands to date.

SACRAMENTO – As the Trump administration attempts to open a portion of Yosemite National Park to private development, weakens protections for public lands and wildlife, and threatens California's coast with expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a conservation package protecting California's coast, wildlife and outdoor access, while announcing the state's largest annual increase in conserved lands to date.

Today, at the California Natural Resources Agency's 30×30 Partnership Summit, Governor Newsom also announced the release of a new 30×30 Progress Report spotlighting California's historic progress toward conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.

While Donald Trump looks for ways to hand public lands to private developers and roll back the safeguards that protect our parks, wildlife, and coastal communities, California is doing the opposite. We are conserving more land than ever before, protecting our iconic coastline from new offshore oil and gas drilling, revitalizing wildlife habitat, and ensuring every Californian can experience the natural treasures that make the Golden State extraordinary.

Governor Gavin Newsom

A b-roll package of the Governor signing this legislation can be downloaded here.

Governor Newsom first launched California's 30×30 effort through executive order in 2020, making California one of the first governments in the world to commit to conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by the end of the decade. The Legislature later codified this commitment under SB 337, which the Governor signed in 2023. The report shows California is on track to meet the 30×30 goal, building on partnerships with California Native American tribes, local communities, landowners, and conservation organizations across the state.

"We've made tremendous progress, but this isn't simply about reaching a number on a chart," said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. "We're protecting the places Californians love and depend on — our rivers, forests, coast, and open spaces — and ensuring they remain healthy for generations to come."

Under Governor Newsom, California has counted more than 3.5 million acres of conserved land and coastal waters since 2022 — an area larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined — putting the state past the halfway mark and on track to meet the 30×30 land goal. More than 1 million acres of land were added to the 30×30 database in the past year alone, bringing the state to 27.1% of lands conserved, and 21.9% of coastal waters conserved.

California stands up to Trump to protect its coasts, wildlife, and public lands

Under Governor Newsom's leadership and in partnership with the Legislature, California has expanded protections for sacred tribal lands, restored critical habitat at the Salton Sea, earned international recognition for marine conservation, and broadened access to parks and the outdoors. Today's legislation builds on that progress by protecting California's coast from expanded offshore oil drilling, strengthening wildlife coexistence and habitat connectivity, expanding access to parks and outdoor spaces, and helping prepare the next generation to address climate change. Together, these bills will:

✅ Protect California's coast from expanded offshore oil drilling: Responds to federal efforts to expand offshore oil and gas leasing off California's coast by prohibiting the use of existing state infrastructure or leases for new federal offshore oil and gas leases. The measure requires the State Lands Commission to consider additional factors before approving an offshore lease renewal, amendment or modification, and eliminates its authority to issue an offshore oil-and-gas lease in a current or future coastal sanctuary.

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✅ Support ranchers and wildlife through coexistence: Establishes the California Wildlife Coexistence Act to reduce, minimize and mitigate conflicts between people and wildlife. The measure supports proactive wildlife-conflict response, tracking, depredation management, animal-welfare and wildlife-health efforts, while continuing compensation for verified wolf depredation losses when livestock producers employ nonlethal deterrence practices.

✅ Make wildlife connectivity a routine part of highway planning: Builds on California's wildlife-connectivity work by requiring Caltrans to publish an inventory of wildlife connectivity assets in a supplemental list to the Transportation Asset Management Plan and continue to include wildlife connectivity as an objective in the State Highway System Management Plan.   These improvements will help animals move safely between habitats, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect drivers and passengers.

✅ Expand equitable access to the outdoors: Codifies the Governor's Outdoors for All initiative at the California Natural Resources Agency. Outdoors for All advances efforts to ensure all Californians can recreate, enjoy and help protect the Golden State's cultural, historic, and natural resources. It builds on more than $1 billion in investments led by Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to expand parks and nature access, prioritizing underserved communities.

✅ Make the State Parks Library Pass permanent: Makes the California State Parks Library Pass program permanent, paired with ongoing budget funding. Through the program, Californians can check out free state parks passes at more than 1,100 public library branches statewide. A total of 33,000 passes have been issued, helping libraries reach new audiences through programs that connect communities with state parks.

✅ Recognize student achievement in climate learning: Establishes the voluntary State Seal of Climate Literacy, allowing schools to create pathways for students to demonstrate mastery in climate-literacy disciplines.

The legislation reflects a shared commitment by the Governor and the Legislature to protect California's natural treasures, support communities, and ensure Californians can enjoy the outdoors. Key authors of today's legislation helped turn California's values into action:

Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), author of AB 1448 and AB 1804: "California has made it clear that our coast is not open for expanded offshore drilling. As the Trump Administration continues its reckless push to expand fossil fuel production in federal waters, AB 1448 ensures that existing infrastructure in state waters cannot be used to facilitate those efforts. AB 1804 helps ensure that all Californians can enjoy and take part in the stewardship of California's world-renowned natural resources by visiting state parks."

Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), author of SB 1268: "Thank you to Governor Newsom for signing SB 1268 and making outdoor equity a lasting priority for California. Our 30×30 goals are about more than protecting land—they're about making sure every Californian has the opportunity to access and enjoy our natural spaces. SB 1268 helps make equitable access a lasting part of California's conservation efforts."

Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), author of SB 1135: "I thank the Governor for signing SB 1135, which meaningfully addresses human and wildlife conflict by using thoughtful, proactive strategies that are non-lethal. We have now re-established a wildlife coexistence program in California, so we can better protect communities, people and animals that call our state home."

Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), author of SB 1250: "Too many Californians have paid the price when wildlife and vehicles collide resulting in lives lost, families devastated, and animals killed. We have the knowledge and technology to prevent these tragedies, and we cannot afford to keep treating them as inevitable. SB 1250 puts prevention first. It means building safer roads, protecting wildlife corridors, and making sure California's transportation system works for both people and the natural environment."

Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), author of SB 1048: "Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and we have a responsibility to equip the next generation of climate leaders with the tools they need to meet it. SB 1048 gives students the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to become stewards of our planet while preparing them for the growing opportunities in California's clean energy economy."

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The full list of bills the Governor signed is below

• AB 1448 by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) — Offshore oil and gas drilling.
• AB 1663 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Bermuda Dunes)— Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act updates.
• AB 1668 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) — Property-tax welfare exemption for qualifying nonprofit open-space lands.
• AB 1804 by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) — State Parks Library Pass program.
• AB 1808 by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) — Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act permit-fee reform.
• AB 2032 by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy)— Golden mussel response and water-supply infrastructure.
• AB 2045 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) — Extension of the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act permitting program.
• SB 1048 by Senator Josh Becker (D‑Menlo Park) — State Seal of Climate Literacy.
• SB 1135 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) — California Wildlife Coexistence Act.
• SB 1250 by Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) — Wildlife connectivity improvements on the state highway system.
• SB 1268 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) — Outdoors for All Initiative.

For full text of the bills, visit the California Legislative Information website.

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