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AB 2373

The California Coastal Act: local coastal program: sea level rise plan: neighborhood-scale adaptation approach.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Diane Dixon

Local governments can adopt neighborhood-scale, area-specific sea level rise plans within Local Coastal Programs, emphasizing nature-based solutions and CCC oversight.

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 2373

AB 2373 (2025-2026) — The California Coastal Act: Local Coastal Program: Sea Level Rise Plan: Neighborhood-Scale Adaptation Approach

Overview

AB 2373 would authorize local governments within California’s coastal zone to include a new “neighborhood-scale adaptation approach” in their Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) or sea level rise (SLR) plans. The approach is designed to tailor adaptation planning to defined areas or assets within a jurisdiction, focusing on area-specific policies and preferred adaptation strategies, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions. The bill must be implemented in a manner consistent with existing Coastal Act provisions and approved by the California Coastal Commission (CCC).

  • Introduced by: Assembly Member Dixon (co-sponsor: Diane Dixon)
  • Session: 2025–2026
  • Status (as of the provided text): Re-referred to Assembly Appropriations; previously amended and passed in related committee actions

Purpose and Intent

  • To provide local governments with flexibility to address sea level rise through a neighborhood-scale lens, complementing statewide SLR planning requirements.
  • To enable targeted adaptation in defined areas that share geophysical or land-use characteristics, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
  • To emphasize nature-based and ecosystem-based responses as preferred adaptation strategies.

Key Provisions

  1. New Section Addition: Public Resources Code 30501.5

    • Local governments may include a neighborhood-scale adaptation approach when developing or updating their LCPs or SLR plans for portions of the coastal zone within their jurisdiction.
    • The neighborhood-scale approach must be found consistent with the Coastal Act, specifically Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

  2. Definition and Scope of Neighborhood-Scale Adaptation Approach

    • May include:
      • Identification of areas or assets to be addressed (e.g., neighborhoods, beaches, protected resources, infrastructure, hydrologic features, or facilities).
      • Areas can vary in type and size, from long stretches of coastline to single beaches or specific facilities.
    • Policies must reflect shared planning features and tailored adaptation strategies for different areas or development types, based on geophysical and land-use characteristics.

  3. Preferred Adaptation Strategies

    • Emphasizes nature-based solutions, including:
      • Beach and dune restoration
      • Living shorelines
      • Coastal wetland restoration
      • Floodplain reconnection
      • Managed retreat (where appropriate)

  4. Implementation and Consistency

    • The neighborhood-scale approach is implemented consistent with existing sections (Sections 30500 and 30985) of the Public Resources Code.
    • Local governments must ensure consistency with the overarching Coastal Act framework and obtain CCC review/approval as part of the LCP process.

  5. Definitions

    • “Neighborhood-scale adaptation approach” refers to targeted adaptation planning for defined areas or assets within a local government’s coastal jurisdiction, sharing characteristics (geologic, land use, etc.) to tailor strategies.

Affected Entities

  • Local governments within the California coastal zone (cities and counties) that develop or revise their Local Coastal Programs or SLR plans.
  • The California Coastal Commission (CCC), which would review and certify any LCP or SLR plan incorporating a neighborhood-scale adaptation approach to ensure consistency with the Coastal Act.
  • Stakeholders in coastal communities, including property owners, infrastructure managers, and resource managers in areas identified as part of the neighborhood-scale approach.

Timelines and Procedural Aspects

  • The bill references existing statutory timelines for SLR planning and LCP integration, including coordination with SB 272-era requirements (2034 deadline for statewide SLR adaptation plans in related provisions).
  • The provision would be implemented within the standard CCC approval process for LCPs/SLR plans.
  • As of the provided text, the bill has completed multiple committee steps and has re-referred status in the Assembly, with amendments made in April 2026.

Potential Impacts

  • Enables localized, area-specific adaptation planning that can be more accurately tailored to unique coastal geographies and development patterns.
  • Encourages utilization of nature-based solutions, potentially guiding investments toward restoration and natural infrastructure.
  • Provides a framework for prioritizing adaptation actions in vulnerable neighborhoods or assets, potentially affecting permitting, zoning, and land-use decisions within the coastal zone.
  • Maintains alignment with the California Coastal Act, ensuring statewide consistency while permitting local customization.

Summary

AB 2373 adds a formal pathway for local coastal programs to adopt a neighborhood-scale adaptation approach to sea level rise. This approach targets defined areas or assets within a jurisdiction, pairing area-specific policies with preferred adaptation strategies—especially nature-based solutions—while remaining subject to California Coastal Commission oversight and the broader Coastal Act framework. The measure aims to balance local flexibility with statewide consistency in coastal resilience planning.

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

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