Regional park districts: East Bay Regional Park District: East Bay Hills Conservation Program.

Senator Grayson's legislation authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and administer a new East Bay Hills Conservation Program focused on preserving and managing approximately 30,000 acres of natural lands across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The program would coordinate efforts to protect wildlife habitat, maintain recreational areas, and enhance climate resilience across the hills' extensive wildland-urban interface.

The bill requires local governments to formally recognize the East Bay Hills as an area of statewide significance in land use policy documents developed or updated after January 1, 2026. Under the program, the Park District may acquire property, implement habitat restoration projects, construct recreational facilities, and provide technical assistance to landowners for conservation practices. The district must collaborate with California Native American tribes, including the Ohlone and Bay Miwok peoples whose ancestral lands encompass the area, along with state and local partners.

The East Bay Hills contain several notable natural features, including California's state grass (purple needlegrass), endangered plant species like Presidio clarkia, and the East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail connecting six historic parks and preserves. The area's redwood forests provide natural cooling during heat events, while the broader landscape contributes to watershed health and carbon sequestration. The legislation maintains existing jurisdictional boundaries, explicitly stating it does not expand the district's authority over local land use decisions within the East Bay Hills.