Wild and scenic rivers.
- Extends indefinitely the state's authority to protect rivers removed from federal wild and scenic status.
- Requires public hearings before adding rivers to the state's wild and scenic system.
- Maintains state protections at levels no greater than previous federal designations.
- Allows the Legislature to modify or remove state wild and scenic river designations at any time.
Assembly Member Schultz's legislation removes the December 31, 2025 sunset date from California's process for preserving wild and scenic river protections when federal designations are withdrawn, making the state's authority to maintain these safeguards permanent.
Under current law, when federal protections for California rivers in the national wild and scenic system are removed through statute or executive order, the Natural Resources Agency Secretary can add these waterways to the state system through 2025. The new measure eliminates this deadline, allowing the secretary to continue evaluating removed rivers for state protection indefinitely. Any state designations made under this authority would remain in effect until modified by future legislation, rather than expiring at the end of 2025.
The bill maintains existing procedural requirements, including mandatory public hearings before state designation and limitations that prevent state protections from exceeding the scope of prior federal safeguards. State designations must match the geographic boundaries set in federal designations and align with previous federal management plans. The Legislature retains authority to remove or modify any river designations made through this process.
 Nick SchultzD Assemblymember | Bill Author |  Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 10 | 0 | 40 | PASS |
- Extends indefinitely the state's authority to protect rivers removed from federal wild and scenic status.
- Requires public hearings before adding rivers to the state's wild and scenic system.
- Maintains state protections at levels no greater than previous federal designations.
- Allows the Legislature to modify or remove state wild and scenic river designations at any time.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Schultz's legislation removes the December 31, 2025 sunset date from California's process for preserving wild and scenic river protections when federal designations are withdrawn, making the state's authority to maintain these safeguards permanent.
Under current law, when federal protections for California rivers in the national wild and scenic system are removed through statute or executive order, the Natural Resources Agency Secretary can add these waterways to the state system through 2025. The new measure eliminates this deadline, allowing the secretary to continue evaluating removed rivers for state protection indefinitely. Any state designations made under this authority would remain in effect until modified by future legislation, rather than expiring at the end of 2025.
The bill maintains existing procedural requirements, including mandatory public hearings before state designation and limitations that prevent state protections from exceeding the scope of prior federal safeguards. State designations must match the geographic boundaries set in federal designations and align with previous federal management plans. The Legislature retains authority to remove or modify any river designations made through this process.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 10 | 0 | 40 | PASS |
Nick SchultzD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted |