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AB 1624

Public Lands Protection Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Addis and 9 co-sponsors

The act requires transferred federal lands to immediately adopt conservation-oriented zoning and limits development, with CEQA review and supermajority approval for changes.

Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and NAT. RES.
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Bill Summary · AB 1624

Summary of AB 1624 (Public Lands Protection Act)

Jurisdiction: California | Session: 2025-2026 | Introduced: January 22, 2026
Status: Referred to committees (as of action history)

Purpose and intent
- AB 1624, titled the Public Lands Protection Act, aims to protect federal public lands in California from potentially incompatible private development after transfer to nonfederal ownership.
- The bill responds to proposed federal land divestiture and seeks to ensure that any transferred land is immediately governed by California’s conservation-oriented zoning designations and related restrictions.
- It asserts that preserving open space and conservation aligns with statewide climate and decarbonization goals and constitutes a matter of statewide concern.

Key provisions and changes

1) New Government Code section 65852.10 (upon transfer of federal land to private/nonfederal entity after Jan 1, 2025)
- If the land has an existing open-space/public land/resource conservation designation in a local general plan or zoning ordinance, that designation and its restrictions attach immediately to the land upon transfer.
- If the land has no such designation at transfer, it automatically falls under the most restrictive conservation-oriented zoning designation currently applied by the jurisdiction, effective by operation of law.

2) Rezoning and development entitlements
- A transferred parcel cannot be rezoned, subdivided, or granted development entitlements that are inconsistent with the applicable conservation-oriented designation, unless:
- A full CEQA environmental impact report is completed.
- The local governing body approves the rezoning/subdivision/entitlement by a two-thirds vote after a public hearing.
- The proposal serves a compelling public interest and includes permanent ecological mitigation or offsets of equal or greater value.
- The proposal complies with all applicable state and local development regulations.

3) Electric infrastructure and clean energy
- Electric infrastructure and clean energy facilities needed to meet California climate/decarbonization goals are deemed permitted uses within a conservation-oriented designation, provided that:
- The parcel is subject to this section, and
- Impacts on habitat and natural resources are minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent feasible.

4) Exemptions and clarifications
- Exempts certain parcels from the protections, including:
- Parcels with operational buildings, hospitals, military installations, or similar infrastructure covering more than 50% of land area.
- Lands held in trust for Native American tribes or individuals.
- Parcels within a city where surrounding parcels are developed with housing or where nonresidential uses exceed 50% of floor area ratio.
- Allows local agencies to adopt more protective zoning or conservation measures than those established by the act.
- Makes clear that preservation of open space for climate/climate infrastructure is a statewide concern and applies to all cities, including charter cities.
- Provisions are severable.

5) Effective date
- Declares the act an urgent statute with immediate effect to preserve public lands and align with climate goals.

What would be affected

  • Federal lands in California acquired by private or nonfederal entities after January 1, 2025.
  • Local governments’ general plans and zoning designations for such lands.
  • Development proposals, subdivisions, or rezonings involving transferred parcels.
  • Electric infrastructure and clean energy projects on these lands, treated as permitted uses if meeting criteria.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill is introduced in January 2026 and, per its terms, takes effect immediately as an urgency statute upon enactment.
  • It would apply to parcels transferred after January 1, 2025.
  • Legislative process: referred to committees (Legislative Governance and Natural Resources) as of March 16, 2026, with prior steps including introduction and first reading.

Impact considerations

  • Strengthens California’s prerogative to maintain open space and conservation values on federally owned lands that transfer to private ownership.
  • Could slow or condition development on transferred lands, requiring CEQA review and two-thirds local approvals for changes.
  • Supports climate/clean energy objectives by permitting necessary infrastructure within conservation designations, subject to environmental safeguards.
  • Creates potential exemptions that limit applicability to certain types of land (e.g., tribal trust lands, certain occupied parcels, or city-wide configurations).

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law or a brief FAQ for stakeholders (developers, local governments, environmental groups).

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

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