AB 2578 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Outdoor recreation: outdoor economy: strategic initiatives: support organizations.

Summary

Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into a statewide agreement with a park support organization to facilitate the implementation of reforms recommended by the Parks Forward Commission and to develop and secure expertise, services, resources, and projects that are not readily available to the state park system, for specified purposes. This bill would authorize the Natural Resources Agency to enter into a statewide agreement with a support organization, as defined, to facilitate and implement certain objectives, and would require the agency and support organization to, after entering into a statewide agreement, collaborate to develop an annual list of strategic initiatives and projects that are statewide priorities, as provided. The bill would authorize certain persons, including the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the support organization's board of directors, as provided.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly → AB2578 · 2 edits

MINOR

This diff is primarily a format and presentation change: the bill text transitions from a traditional legislative document layout (with line numbers, page headers, and column formatting) to a web-based rendering of the same bill. The substantive policy content remains essentially identical between the two versions. One minor textual addition appears in Section 527(a)(1), adding language about strengthening the outdoor economy to support workforce stability and generate funds for sustainable operation of recreational amenities.

TECHNICAL

The entire document was reformatted from a traditional legislative bill layout (with line numbers, page breaks, and two-column formatting) to a web page presentation. No policy content was changed by this reformatting.

SCOPE

Section 527(a)(1) gains additional language stating the support organization should work toward 'strengthening the outdoor economy to better support the workforce, mitigate seasonal fluctuations, attract new opportunities and experiences, and generate funds to support the sustainable operation of outdoor recreational amenities and activities.' This broadens the economic development purpose of the funding provision beyond simply engaging new funding sources.

02/20/26 - Introduced → 04/16/26 - Amended Assembly · 11 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MAJOR

The amended version of AB 2578 significantly expands the scope and purpose of the proposed public recreation access and outdoor economy support organization. Key additions include new conservation and wildlife coexistence requirements, tribal collaboration obligations, a reference to the Department of Fish and Wildlife's hunting and fishing recruitment initiative, equity language in the outdoor access definition, and expanded board membership authority for the agency secretary.

SCOPE

Added the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Hunting and Fishing Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation Initiative as an additional initiative the support organization must help facilitate and implement under Section 527(a).

New subsection (4) in Section 527(a) adds a duty to support and provide recommendations to a designated state director if California joins the Confluence of States.

Section 527(b)(1)(C) was changed from regional tourism strategies that 'do not duplicate' Visit California efforts to those that 'support, but do not duplicate' such efforts, broadening the collaborative expectation.

The legislative counsel's digest title was expanded to include 'Outdoor recreation: outdoor economy: strategic initiatives: support organizations,' reflecting the broadened scope of the bill.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'outdoor access' was changed from 'people to enter and use' to 'all people to safely and equitably enter and use,' adding explicit equity and safety language.

The definition of 'outdoor recreation' was substantially expanded to require activities be undertaken 'responsibly,' added a requirement for 'respect for conservation, wildlife, habitat, and off-limit areas,' and added surfing and adaptive outdoor sports to the list of covered activities.

REQUIREMENT

New subsection (10) in Section 527(a) requires prioritizing coexistence between outdoor recreationists, wildlife, biodiversity, and habitat with a purpose to protect and preserve wildlife habitats and inspire conservationists for generations to come.

New subsection (11) in Section 527(a) requires initiating collaboration with existing tribal entities and maintaining respect for their wishes for the land and waters on which people recreate.

Section 527(a)(1) was expanded to include language about strengthening the outdoor economy to better support the workforce, mitigate seasonal fluctuations, attract new opportunities and experiences, and generate funds for sustainable operation of outdoor recreational amenities.

Section 527(a)(3) now includes maintenance, operation, stewardship, and mitigation of new and existing amenities and facilities as a covered activity, and changes 'outdoor recreation' to 'responsible outdoor recreation.'

ENFORCEMENT

Section 527.1(a) now allows the secretary of the agency to designate additional ex officio nonvoting board members from departments within the agency, and adds 'or proxy' as an option for designees.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.

lower

Feb 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors