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    AB-679
    Natural Resources & Water

    Department of Parks and Recreation: Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Streamlines the acquisition of land for three state parks damaged by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Wildfire.
    • Exempts Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks from standard property acquisition rules until 2031.
    • Requires public meetings 30 days before property acquisitions to allow community input.
    • Mandates fair market value pricing and licensed appraisals for all park property purchases.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Pellerin's proposal to streamline land acquisitions for three California state parks responds to extensive damage from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Wildfire. The legislation exempts property acquisitions for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks from State Public Works Board oversight through January 2031, allowing the Department of Parks and Recreation to directly purchase lands needed for rebuilding and ecological enhancement.

    The bill establishes specific requirements for these acquisitions, including fair market value appraisals by licensed professionals and Department of General Services contract approval. Property purchases must be preceded by public meetings at least 30 days before closing, with mandatory notifications to county supervisors and adjacent landowners. The Department must post transaction details online and make documented efforts to contact neighboring property owners displaced by the 2020 fire.

    These temporary provisions aim to expedite the relocation of visitor facilities away from sensitive areas while maintaining public transparency in land transfers. The legislation preserves all other applicable regulations governing state property acquisitions, with the streamlined process expiring in 2031. The bill's findings cite the unique circumstances of wildfire recovery and the need to act promptly on priority land purchases to fulfill the Department's vision for rebuilding and connecting these parks.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 679 Pellerin Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 9 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    AB-2103
    Department of Parks and Recreation: Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks: real property acquisition.
    February 2024
    Vetoed
    View Bill
    AB-566
    Department of Parks and Recreation: acquisition and protection of real property.
    February 2023
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 2 of 2 items
    Page 1 of 1

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Gail Pellerin
    Gail PellerinD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Author
    John Laird
    John LairdD
    California State Senator
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/5/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 16, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5207PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Streamlines the acquisition of land for three state parks damaged by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Wildfire.
    • Exempts Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks from standard property acquisition rules until 2031.
    • Requires public meetings 30 days before property acquisitions to allow community input.
    • Mandates fair market value pricing and licensed appraisals for all park property purchases.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Gail Pellerin
    Gail PellerinD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Author
    John Laird
    John LairdD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Assembly Member Pellerin's proposal to streamline land acquisitions for three California state parks responds to extensive damage from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Wildfire. The legislation exempts property acquisitions for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks from State Public Works Board oversight through January 2031, allowing the Department of Parks and Recreation to directly purchase lands needed for rebuilding and ecological enhancement.

    The bill establishes specific requirements for these acquisitions, including fair market value appraisals by licensed professionals and Department of General Services contract approval. Property purchases must be preceded by public meetings at least 30 days before closing, with mandatory notifications to county supervisors and adjacent landowners. The Department must post transaction details online and make documented efforts to contact neighboring property owners displaced by the 2020 fire.

    These temporary provisions aim to expedite the relocation of visitor facilities away from sensitive areas while maintaining public transparency in land transfers. The legislation preserves all other applicable regulations governing state property acquisitions, with the streamlined process expiring in 2031. The bill's findings cite the unique circumstances of wildfire recovery and the need to act promptly on priority land purchases to fulfill the Department's vision for rebuilding and connecting these parks.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/5/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 679 Pellerin Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 16, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5207PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 9 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    AB-2103
    Department of Parks and Recreation: Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks: real property acquisition.
    February 2024
    Vetoed
    View Bill
    AB-566
    Department of Parks and Recreation: acquisition and protection of real property.
    February 2023
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 2 of 2 items
    Page 1 of 1