Outdoor public recreation spaces: equitable access.

The Outdoors for All Strategy update schedule was changed from a first update due by December 31, 2028 with updates every five years, to a first update due by December 31, 2031 with updates every eight years. This gives the Natural Resources Agency more time before its first required strategy update and reduces the frequency of subsequent updates.

Standard enrolled bill formatting was applied: amendment dates and introduction history were removed, passage dates (Senate August 27, 2026; Assembly August 26, 2026) were added, and signature lines for the Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the Assembly, Private Secretary of the Governor, and Governor were included.

The bill no longer creates a new Division 1.7 (Sections 1030-1032) in the Public Resources Code. Instead, it adds a single Section 1005 immediately following Section 1003, consolidating all operative provisions into one section.

The Senate version included standalone definitions for 'barriers,' 'disadvantaged communities,' and 'low-income communities' in a separate Section 1030. The Assembly version removes these definitions entirely, retaining only '30x30 goal,' 'Agency,' 'Outdoors for All initiative,' and 'Outdoor public recreation spaces.'

The definition of '30x30 goal' now references subdivision (b) of Section 71450 in addition to Executive Order N-82-20, providing a statutory basis for the goal beyond the executive order alone.

The Senate version listed specific legislative goals (achieving equitable access, eliminating barriers, providing investments and park expansions in disadvantaged communities, aligning with 30x30). The Assembly version replaces these with a requirement to implement priorities from the Outdoors for All Strategy published November 15, 2023, which includes establishing spaces, fostering belonging, connecting people to outdoors, cocreating with communities, building career pathways, and aligning funding.

The deadline for the first update of the Outdoors for All Strategy was changed from December 31, 2028 to December 31, 2031, and the interval between subsequent updates was extended from every five years to at least every eight years.

The Senate version included an explicit requirement that the agency provide public input mechanisms in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. The Assembly version removes this specific statutory reference, though it retains stakeholder consultation and public meeting requirements in the strategy update process.

The entire amendment to Section 35031 of the Public Resources Code (Coastal Resources and Energy Assistance Act) was removed. This provision had made nonsubstantive changes to grant authorization for coastal counties and cities to use unexpended funds for technical and financial assistance.

The bill's overall scope narrowed from covering both coastal resources grants and outdoor recreation equity to focusing exclusively on outdoor recreation equity. The legislative counsel's digest was updated to remove all references to coastal counties and cities.

A new Section 1005 was added to the Public Resources Code (immediately following Section 1003) that establishes the Outdoors for All initiative within Division 1, requires the agency to implement six specific priorities from the Outdoors for All Strategy published November 15, 2023, and mandates maintaining a Deputy Secretary for Access position to coordinate implementation.

Section 1005 requires the agency to update the Outdoors for All Strategy by December 31, 2028, and every five years thereafter, with at least three public meetings (in-person, virtual, or hybrid), at least one 30-day public comment period, and posting of the final update on the agency's website.

The fiscal committee vote changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has a fiscal impact that requires fiscal committee review, likely due to the new Section 1005 requirements for maintaining a Deputy Secretary position and conducting strategy updates with public meetings.

Coauthors were added: Assembly Members Caloza, Celeste Rodriguez, Bryan, Kalra, and Pellerin.

Added an entirely new Division 1.7 (Sections 1030-1032) to the Public Resources Code establishing the 'Outdoors for All initiative,' administered by the Natural Resources Agency in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Added extensive legislative findings (Section 1(b)) declaring that outdoor recreation spaces are a public good, that disadvantaged communities face access barriers, that climate change adaptation is needed, that historical connections to land must be respected including for Native American tribes and LGBTQ+ communities, and that current federal actions endanger conservation goals.

Section 1031 sets four goals for the initiative: achieving equitable access to outdoor public recreation spaces regardless of income, race, ethnicity, geography, age, or disability; identifying and eliminating barriers to access; providing investments, grants, programs, and park expansions in disadvantaged and low-income communities; and aligning with state outdoor equity goals and the 30x30 conservation goal.

Section 1030 defines key terms including 'barriers' (financial costs, transportation, information access, safety concerns, physical accessibility, discriminatory practices), 'disadvantaged communities' (per Health and Safety Code Section 39711), 'low-income communities' (per Health and Safety Code Section 39713), and 'outdoor public recreation spaces.'

Section 1032 requires the agency to consult diverse stakeholders including community-based organizations, local governments, and environmental justice advocates; provide public input mechanisms per the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act; and submit annual progress reports to the Legislature starting January 1, 2028.

The original Section 35031 coastal resources provision was retained with minor nonsubstantive corrections (removing redundant words like 'effectively exercise effectively' and fixing 'as well as and the need' to 'and the need').

The fiscal committee line changed from 'no' to 'no yes,' indicating a correction that fiscal committee review is required for this bill.