AB-1311 • 2026

California Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program.

Agriculture Budget Elections Land Water

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Hart
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on how the $400 million will be allocated among different regions or types of land.

California Rangeland Protection Program

This law appropriates $400 million from Proposition 4 bond funds to protect California's rangelands through conservation easements.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates $400 million from Proposition 4 bond funds for the Wildlife Conservation Board to award grants under the Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program.
Requires the board to give these grants to eligible entities like state agencies or nonprofits to buy conservation easements on private land that supports food production and ecosystem services.
Sets a deadline of June 30, 2028, for the Wildlife Conservation Board to distribute grant money to grantees.
Requires grantees to use the funds by June 30, 2029, to buy conservation easements on land that helps with wildfire fuel reduction and wildlife habitat preservation.

Who It Names or Affects

The Wildlife Conservation Board
Eligible entities like state agencies or nonprofits
Landowners who own rangeland, grazing land, or grassland

Terms To Know

Conservation Easement: A legal agreement that limits the use of land to protect its natural features and resources.
Wildlife Conservation Board: An agency in California that manages grants for wildlife habitat protection and conservation projects.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the $400 million will be allocated among different regions or types of land.
It is unclear which specific entities will receive the grants beyond being eligible state agencies, local public agencies, or nonprofits.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1311, as amended, Hart.
California Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program.
Existing law establishes the California Rangeland, Grazing Land, and Grassland Protection Program to protect California’s rangeland, grazing land, and grasslands through the use of conservation easements, for specified purposes.
Existing law authorizes, under the program, funds to be expended by the Wildlife Conservation Board for the acquisition of conservation easements over qualified property, as defined, and authorizes the board to make grants of funds to a state agency, local public agency, or nonprofit organization for the acquisition of conservation easements over qualified property.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.
The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, approved by the voters as Proposition 4 at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election, authorized the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, park creation and outdoor access, and clean air programs. The act makes available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $870,000,000 to the board for grant programs to protect and enhance fish and wildlife resources and habitat and achieve the state’s biodiversity, public access, and conservation goals.
This bill would appropriate, from the
above-described bond funds made available to the board, $400,000,000 to the board to award under the program as grants to eligible entities, as defined, to acquire conservation easements on qualified property that is privately owned and supports the production of food and fiber and ecosystem services, including, but not limited to, wildfire fuel reduction, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and open vistas. The bill would require the board to disburse the funds to grantees through grant agreements on or before June 30, 2028, and to allocate the funds to eligible entities across the state in a specified manner. The bill would require, on or before June 30, 2029, a grantee to expend the grant funds to acquire a conservation easement and record the conservation easement. The bill would authorize the board to partner with, and receive funds from, land trusts that are certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, as provided.

Current Bill Text

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