AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 23, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

Introduced by Senator Gonzalez

February 20, 2026

An act to add Section 1005 to the Public Resources Code, relating to outdoor recreation.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the Natural Resources Agency, which consists of various departments, including the Department of Conservation, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law vests in the Natural Resources Agency various powers, including those related to conservation of lands.

By Executive Order No. N-82-20, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the Natural Resources Agency to combat the biodiversity and climate crises by, among other things, establishing the California Biodiversity Collaborative and conserving at least 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit, on or before March 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, a report to the Legislature on the progress made in the prior calendar year toward achieving the goal to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Existing law provides that it is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, known as the 30x30 goal.

Existing law establishes the Equitable Outdoor Access Act (act), which sets forth the state’s commitment to ensuring all Californians can benefit from, and have meaningful access to, the state’s rich cultural and natural resources. Existing law declares that it is state policy, among other things, to ensure that all Californians have equitable opportunities to safe and affordable access to nature and access to the benefits of nature, and to prevent and minimize the intentional and unwarranted limitation of sustainable public access to public lands, where appropriate, including, but not limited to, local, regional, state, and federal parks, rivers, lakes, beaches, forests, mountain ranges, deserts, and other natural landscapes. Existing law requires specified state agencies to consider and incorporate, as appropriate, the state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, or grant criteria, or making expenditures, as specified. Existing law requires all state agencies implementing the above-described state policy to do so in a manner consistent with the mission of their agency and that protects the health and safety of the public and conserves natural and cultural resources.

This bill would establish the Outdoors for All initiative, to be administered by the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with specified state entities, to advance the objectives of the act and to implement and update specified priorities, including, among other related priorities, establishing outdoor public recreation spaces, as defined, connecting people and the outdoors, and aligning funding to achieve the initiative’s goals, as specified. The bill would require the agency to report, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the progress made to achieve the initiative’s goals, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) For purposes of this section, “outdoor public recreation spaces” or “spaces” include, but are not limited to, parks, open spaces, trails, beaches, forests, and other natural areas.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Outdoor public recreation spaces are a public good and provide significant health, educational, economic, and environmental benefits to all Californians.

(2) Many communities, particularly disadvantaged and low-income communities and communities of color, face barriers to accessing outdoor public recreation spaces, including the lack of nearby parks; transportation, financial, cultural, and informational barriers; and safety concerns.

(3) All Californians, regardless of their ages or characteristic backgrounds, deserve access to outdoor public recreation spaces with well-maintained public facilities that offer multiple ways to enjoy these spaces.

(4) In expanding access to outdoor public recreation spaces, the state must maintain and manage these spaces to ensure that both people and nature thrive long term, to protect these spaces, and to design these spaces to withstand and adapt to climate change.

(5) Outdoor public recreation spaces must respect the historical and current connections between the land and all Californians, including California Native American tribes, people of color, people with disabilities, women, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) communities. To ensure that these communities feel safe and celebrated in outdoor public recreation spaces, stories must be told that honor all Californians, historical inaccuracies in such storytelling must be corrected, access to outdoor public recreation spaces must expand for the benefit of people who speak different languages, trust must be built between the visitors of these spaces and the residents of communities that surround these spaces, and the emotional and physical safety of all Californians must be prioritized.

(6) The characteristic backgrounds of Californians who make up the environmental and outdoor workforce affect where outdoor public recreation spaces are located, who these spaces are designed for, and where funding for these spaces is distributed. An environmental and outdoor workforce that reflects the diversity of the people of California promotes a sense of safety and belonging.

(7) As the current federal administration takes actions that endanger conservation goals and undermine the safety and access to outdoor public recreation spaces by, among other things, opening up public lands to sale and oil drilling leases, promoting offshore drilling in the state, conducting immigration enforcement activities at public parks, and differentiating the National Park Service’s entrance fees based on citizenship status, it is necessary for the state to reaffirm its commitment to protect its cultural and natural resources and expand equitable access to outdoor public recreation spaces.

(8) The Outdoors for All initiative established pursuant to Section 1005 of the Public Resources Code advances equitable access to nature, conservation, biodiversity protection, and more. This initiative is critical for maintaining progress to meet the state’s goals, including the state’s outdoor equity goals, and the 30x30 goal established by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order No. N-82-20, to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

SEC. 2.

Section 1005 is added to the Public Resources Code, immediately following Section 1003, to read:

1005.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “30x30 goal” means the goal, established by subdivision (b) of Section 71450 and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order No. N-82-20, to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

(2) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.

(3) “Outdoors for All initiative” or “initiative” means the initiative established pursuant to subdivision (b).

(4) “Outdoor public recreation spaces” include, but are not limited to, parks, open spaces, trails, beaches, forests, and other natural areas.

(b) The Outdoors for All initiative is hereby established, to be administered by the agency, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation and other relevant state entities, to advance the objectives of this division.

(c) As part of the initiative, the agency shall implement all of the following priorities provided in the Outdoors for All Strategy published by the agency on November 15, 2023:

(1) Establish outdoor public recreation spaces for people and nature to thrive.

(2) Foster belonging.

(3) Connect people and the outdoors.

(4) Cocreate with communities.

(5) Build equitable career pathways and a representative workforce.

(6) Align funding from federal, state, regional, and private sources to achieve the initiative’s goals.

(d) The agency shall maintain the position of Deputy Secretary for Access within the agency to coordinate the initiative’s implementation.

(e) (1) On or before December 31, 2028, 2031, and at least every five eight years thereafter, the agency shall update the Outdoors for All Strategy to advance the objectives of this division, to align with relevant goals of the state, including the state’s outdoor equity goals and the 30x30 goal, and to ensure conservation strategies enhance public access and benefits for disadvantaged and low-income communities.

(2) In implementing paragraph (1), the agency shall consult with diverse stakeholders, including community-based organizations, local governments, and environmental justice advocates, to ensure inclusive decisionmaking and prevent loopholes.

(3) The agency shall host at least three public meetings during the update process. These meetings may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid.

(4) The agency shall provide at least one 30-day public comment period on the update.

(5) The agency shall post the final update on its internet website in a publicly accessible location.

(f) (1) On or before January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the agency shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature detailing the progress made to achieve the initiative’s goals, including implementing and updating the Outdoors for All Strategy.

(2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.