2026 California Policy Roundup
A look at the bills, advocacy, and partnerships that shaped this year’s work for birds and communities
As another legislative session closes, we’re looking back at our work for birds, wildlife, and the places they depend on.
This year, we were proud to bring back Audubon California’s Advocacy Day, bringing the voices and experiences of people from across the state direct to Sacramento. In August, advocates from communities spanning the Salton Sea and deserts to California’s coast and urban areas joined us at the State Capitol, sharing their perspectives with State Senate and Assembly offices and firsthand experiences from their local communities, conservation programs, campuses, and community Audubon chapters.
Those conversations reflected the issues at the heart of our work throughout the 2026 legislative session: protecting water and lands birds and people depend on, expanding access to nature, strengthening conservation protections, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act.
One of our biggest priorities was SB 1268 (Gonzalez), which Audubon California co-sponsored with GreenLatinos to continue California’s Outdoors for All initiative and help make equitable access to parks, open space, and nature a lasting statewide commitment.
Audubon advocates also supported our priorities throughout the year by sending letters to lawmakers urging them to support SB 954, which sought to close a loophole in the California Environmental Quality Act for certain advanced manufacturing facilities, and by sharing why these issues matter in their own communities.
Regardless of each bill’s outcome, those voices helped lawmakers hear directly from the people affected by their decisions. We’re grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and time to bring these priorities into the rooms where decisions are made.
Looking Back at Our 2026 Policy Priorities
Here’s a look at several of the bills, resolutions, and budget priorities Audubon California supported during the 2026 legislative session—and where they stand today. In addition to co-sponsoring SB 1268, our support included submitting public comment letters, providing testimony, and working alongside lawmakers and partners to advance policies that benefit birds, habitats, and communities.
SB 1268: Expanding Outdoors for All
Everyone should have access to parks, open space, and nature, regardless of where they live in California. Audubon California co-sponsored SB 1268 with GreenLatinos to continue California’s Outdoors for All initiative and make equitable access to nature a lasting statewide commitment by codifying Governor Newsom’s Outdoors for All initiative. SB 1268 was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 29, 2026. Read how this progress can help shape a future where more Californians can enjoy the outdoors.
AB 2218: Advancing Water Equity for California Native American Tribes
Water is deeply connected to culture, community, and ecological stewardship. AB 2218 would establish a state policy recognizing historic water inequities affecting California Native American Tribes and direct the state to better support Tribes in maintaining cultural traditions, ecological practices, and relationships with waters they have stewarded since time immemorial. The bill represents an important step toward addressing the lasting impacts of policies that forcibly separated Tribal communities from their lands and water resources. AB 2218 was vetoed by Governor Newsom on September 18, 2026.
AB 2734: Investing Whale Tail Funds in California’s Coast
California’s Whale Tail License Plate has helped fund coastal access, education, stewardship, and conservation for decades. AB 2734 directs a greater share of Whale Tail revenue toward coastal programs, helping ensure that more of the money generated by the plate supports the coast it celebrates. These investments can strengthen coastal restoration, public access, and habitat for species including the California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover. AB 2734 was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 20, 2026.
SCR 136: Celebrating 50 Years of the California Coastal Act
For 50 years, the California Coastal Act has helped protect habitat, preserve public access, and safeguard the coast for birds and people. Audubon California supported SCR 136, introduced by Senator John Laird, to commemorate five decades of coastal protection and reaffirm the importance of continued stewardship of California’s coast and coastal waters. The Coastal Act has helped protect and restore thousands of acres of habitat while expanding opportunities for people to access and connect with the coastline. SCR 136 was adopted by the Legislature and chaptered on August 11, 2026.
SB 954: Restoring CEQA’s Environmental Safeguards for Advanced Manufacturing
SB 954 sought to address a loophole created in 2025 that exempted certain advanced manufacturing facilities from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Audubon California supported the bill because it would have strengthened safeguards for communities and sensitive habitat while requiring more consideration of environmental impacts from qualifying projects. Thousands of Audubon California supporters contacted lawmakers in support of these protections. SB 954 was vetoed by Governor Newsom on September 18, 2026.
SB 1135: Helping People and Wildlife Coexist
As people and wildlife increasingly share California’s urban, rural, and working landscapes, preventing conflict before it happens can help keep both communities and animals safe. SB 1135 would restore California’s statewide wildlife coexistence program, providing education, tools, and science-based resources to help communities reduce harmful interactions with wildlife. The bill would also support statewide reporting and programs designed to address wildlife conflicts, including those involving livestock. Governor Newsom signed SB 1135 into law on September 29, 2026.
Investing in Wetlands and Wildlife Habitat
Healthy wetlands and wildlife areas are essential stopover, breeding, and wintering habitat for millions of birds moving through California. This year, Audubon California and partners advocated for Proposition 4 funding to support wetlands, refuges, and wildlife areas in the Central Valley and Klamath Basin. These investments can help restore habitat, strengthen biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and support the communities and economies connected to healthy landscapes. Thanks to our advocacy, the final state budget included $25 million for Central Valley wetlands and the Klamath refuges.
Growing Pressure, Continued Leadership
With growing pressures on habitat, water, and communities across California, strong state leadership will remain essential to protecting biodiversity and helping reverse decades of bird population declines.
We’ll continue monitoring how these laws and investments are implemented, tracking emerging policy opportunities, and working with partners and communities to advocate for the protections California needs.
That work is only possible because of the people and partners who show up for it. We’re deeply grateful to our supporters, community Audubon chapters, advocates across the state, and our partners at the offices of Assemblymembers Connolly and Senator Gonzalez, GreenLatinos, Los Padres ForestWatch, Grassland Resource Conservation District, Clean Water Action, and many others, for sharing their expertise, raising their voices, and working alongside us to advance these priorities.
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