Coastal Commission & Development Oversignt

Makes technical changes to provisions governing the California Sea Level Rise State and Regional Support Collaborative.

Requires new coastal development permits for reactivating oil facilities idle for over 5 years. Mandates all offshore oil must be transported onshore by pipeline using best available technology. Expands oversight of oil lease transfers with new environmental and safety requirements. Redefines expanded oil extraction to include hydraulic fracturing and unconventional drilling methods.

Establishes a producer responsibility program requiring companies to manage collection of waste oil and lubricants by 2028. Creates a producer organization to implement statewide collection systems at no cost to residents. Requires producers to fund program costs and reimburse local governments for illegal dumping cleanup. Authorizes penalties up to $50,000 per day for companies that violate program requirements.

Mandates enhanced sea level rise plans for coastal areas to address science, equity, and adaptation. Authorizes deeming existing sea level rise information to satisfy content. Encourages voluntary early consultation with the CCC by January 1, 2029. Updates must include economic analyses of critical infrastructure costs and comply by 2034.

Requires state agencies to report on contaminated sites vulnerable to sea level and groundwater rise by 2027. Mandates assessment timelines for vulnerable contaminated sites to be included in the legislative report. Automatically repeals these reporting requirements on January 1, 2031.

Authorizes the creation of marine artificial reefs as conservation and mitigation banks for environmental protection. Requires environmental review and ongoing monitoring to ensure reefs meet designated performance standards. Mandates a 1% trust fund from credit sales for long-term reef management on state lands. Allows both nonprofit and for-profit organizations to establish and operate marine artificial reef banks.

Requires state agencies to evaluate and update standards for copper-based boat paint by January 2028. Mandates completion of studies on copper pollution in marine waters by June 2027. Establishes new requirements for addressing elevated copper levels in California's harbors and marinas. Requires public posting of best practices for reducing copper pollution from boat paint.

Requires large outdoor events to offer drink spiking test kits and protective drink lids starting July 2026. Mandates event staff to contact authorities when drink spiking is suspected or reported. Requires venues to post warning signs about drink spiking at all alcohol service points. Establishes warnings instead of criminal penalties for first-time violations of these requirements.

Makes technical changes to provisions governing local coastal program submissions.

Establishes emergency CO for ADUs in disaster counties after Feb 1, 2025. Requires two conditions: the main dwelling is damaged and the ADU has permits and inspections. Excludes attached ADUs from the emergency occupancy exception. Accelerates ADU coastal permit decisions to 60 days with concurrent processing.

Establishes a process for designating protected surfing areas along California's coast as state surfing reserves. Requires the Coastal Conservancy to create criteria for surfing reserve designations by July 2026. Allows local governments to apply for surfing reserve status for coastlines within their jurisdiction. Integrates designated surfing reserves into California's goal to protect 30% of coastal waters by 2030.

Streamlines coastal development amendments by making them effective immediately after commission approval. Establishes a 30-day correction period for public access violations before penalties apply. Requires comprehensive enforcement reports every 5 years instead of annually. Allows local governments to enforce building code violations under their coastal programs.

Authorizes blue carbon demonstration projects to quantify sequestration, contingent on funding. Defines blue carbon projects as restoration of historical habitats with native species. Allows requiring blue carbon projects as mitigation for certain coastal habitat impacts. Requires design, monitoring, data collection, and public reporting of results.

Establishes a de minimis path to speed minor university plan amendments. Sets a 10 working days deadline for de minimis decisions and allows three-member objections to trigger a hearing. Prioritizes active and public transport over parking and defers housing parking determinations to universities. Requires monthly public posting of plans and amendments on the Coastal Commission site.

Requires creation of a detailed inventory of abandoned vessels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by 2027. Mandates tracking of vessel sizes, hazardous materials, and estimated removal costs for each abandoned boat. Aims to protect Delta's water supply and ecosystem from pollution caused by abandoned vessels. Requires legislative funding approval before inventory work can begin.

Expands the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program to cover more coast areas. Requires the Ocean Protection Council to participate as an advisory partner if funding is available. Establishes a unified, voluntary, non-regulatory program with data, marketing, zones, and incentives. Applies only to vessels 300 gross tons or greater and requires a 2029 implementation report.

Overturns the Coastal Commission's denial of SpaceX's request to increase launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Authorizes SpaceX to increase annual launches from 36 to 50 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Takes effect immediately upon passage to support national security and aerospace industry growth. Declares the Commission's October 2024 objection null and void.