AB 2696
Coastal protection: findings and declarations.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Pending Referral
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill clarifies and reaffirms the state’s commitment to protecting California’s coastal zone. It restates key findings about the importance of preserving the state’s natural resources and ensuring responsible development along the coast. Specifically, it emphasizes the need to balance economic and social needs with the protection of the environment and public resources. The bill makes minor changes to existing language within the Public Resources Code.
Key provisions
- Reaffirms the California coastal zone as a distinct and valuable natural resource.
- Declares the permanent protection of state’s natural and scenic resources as a paramount concern.
- States the need to protect the ecological balance of the coastal zone.
- Recognizes the importance of existing and planned developments for economic and social well-being.
- Makes nonsubstantive changes to existing findings and declarations.
Who is affected
- Residents of California
- Developers in the coastal zone
- State government
- Coastal zone businesses
- Marine fisheries
Notable changes
- Restates existing findings and declarations regarding coastal protection.
- Highlights the balance between economic development and environmental protection.
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AB2696:v99#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2696
| Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris |
| February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 30001 of the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2696, as introduced, Petrie-Norris. Coastal protection: findings and declarations.
Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, provides for the protection of California’s coast and requires any person wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, as defined, to obtain a coastal development permit, except as specified. The act makes various findings and declarations regarding the need to preserve the state’s natural and scenic resources along the coast and ensure that development in the coastal zone is carefully planned and developed.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those findings and declarations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 30001 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
30001.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares: declares all of the following:
(a) That the California coastal zone is a distinct and valuable natural resource of vital and enduring interest to all the people and exists as a delicately balanced ecosystem.
(b) That the permanent protection of the state’s natural and scenic resources is a paramount concern to present and future residents of the state and nation.
(c) That to promote the public safety, health, and welfare, and to protect public and private property, wildlife, marine fisheries, and other ocean resources, and the natural environment, it is necessary to protect the ecological balance of the coastal zone and prevent its deterioration and destruction.
(d) That existing developed uses, and future developments that are carefully planned and developed consistent with the policies of this division, are essential to the economic and social well-being of the people of this state and especially to working persons employed within the coastal zone.