WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 949

Environmental protection: Natural Resources Agency: resource of statewide significance: Santa Cruz Mountains.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Becker and 2 co-sponsors

The bill designates the Santa Cruz Mountains as a landscape resource of statewide significance to drive enhanced, collaborative protection and restoration efforts by state agencies

June 24 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
#environmentalprotection #naturalresourcesagency #santacruzmountains #resourceofstatewidesignificance
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 949

Overview

SB 949 would designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a landscape resource of statewide significance and require special protection and collaborative stewardship efforts by California’s Natural Resources Agency (NRA) and its affiliated departments, boards, conservancies, and commissions. The bill frames the Santa Cruz Mountains—spanning portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties—as an area deserving heightened attention and coordinated conservation actions beyond current protections.

Purpose and intent

  • Recognize the Santa Cruz Mountains as a landscape resource of statewide significance.
  • Establish a statutory basis for enhanced protection, restoration, and preservation efforts targeting this landscape.
  • Promote collaboration among state natural resources entities and stakeholders to support stewardship, resilience, and long-term resource health in the mountains.

Key provisions and changes

  • Declaration: The bill creates a finding that a special statute is necessary to address the unique conservation needs of the Santa Cruz Mountains within specified counties.
  • Designation: The Santa Cruz Mountains would be designated as a landscape resource of statewide significance, triggering a framework for heightened consideration in state resource protection planning.
  • Agency responsibilities: The NRA and its constituent departments, boards, conservancies, and commissions would be tasked, to the extent resources are available and when appropriate, to encourage collaborative stewardship approaches. This includes actions to support protection, restoration, and preservation of the mountains.
  • Collaborative approaches: Emphasis on cooperative, multi-stakeholder stewardship efforts rather than purely regulatory measures, potentially involving local governments, private landowners, non-governmental organizations, tribes, and other stakeholders.
  • Resource availability: Acknowledges that implementation may depend on available resources, indicating potential variability in the scope or pace of actions.

Who/what is affected

  • State agencies: Natural Resources Agency and its components (departments, boards, conservancies, commissions) would take on enhanced consideration and collaborative responsibilities concerning the Santa Cruz Mountains.
  • Geographic scope: The designation applies to portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.
  • Stakeholders: Local governments, landowners, conservation groups, and other partners are likely to be engaged through collaborative stewardship efforts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative process: SB 949 has progressed through committee hearings and stage advances, with amendments and reconfirmations in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and the APPR (Appropriations) committee.
  • Key dates: Introduced in 2026 with amendments on March 25; passed the Senate on May 7 (third reading, 35-0) and moved to the Assembly; subsequently moved through the Assembly committees and readings, with a June 2026 committee action to do pass and re-refer to APPR, and a reaffirmed path toward consent calendar.
  • Status: As of June 9, 2026, the bill is in process with positive committee actions and consent-calendar considerations anticipated.

Potential impact and considerations

  • The designation could lead to increased coordination and funding opportunities for landscape-scale conservation, restoration projects, and resilience planning in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
  • Because the bill emphasizes collaboration and available resources, actual on-the-ground impact may depend on state budget allocations and stakeholder cooperation.
  • The measure could influence land-use planning discussions, watershed management, habitat protection, fire resilience, and climate adaptation efforts within the mountainous region.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.