AB-1358 • 2026

Santa Ana River Conservancy Program: lower Santa Ana River region.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Valencia
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 candidate explanation included claims about defining specific terms which are not supported in the official text.

Santa Ana River Conservancy Program: Lower Santa Ana River Region

This bill requires at least 60% of funds for projects in heavily urbanized areas of the lower Santa Ana River region to benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a program called the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program, run by the State Coastal Conservancy.
Requires the conservancy to use services from the California Conservation Corps and Community Conservation Corps for its projects.
Authorizes the conservancy to fund or do projects that improve outdoor spaces, make them safer, help people learn about nature, and protect history and culture.
Specifies that at least 60% of funds allocated must go to projects in heavily urbanized areas of the lower Santa Ana River region to benefit disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in heavily urbanized areas of the lower Santa Ana River region
The State Coastal Conservancy
California Conservation Corps and Community Conservation Corps

Terms To Know

disadvantaged communities: Areas where many people have low income or face other challenges.
vulnerable populations: Groups of people who are more likely to be hurt by problems like pollution or lack of services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exactly how the funds will be used beyond requiring them to go to heavily urbanized areas.
It is unclear what specific projects will qualify as benefiting disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations under this law.

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.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 4.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-13 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 1358, as amended, Valencia.
Santa Ana River Conservancy
Program.
Program: lower Santa Ana River region.
Existing law establishes the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program to be administered by the State Coastal Conservancy.
Existing law requires the conservancy, for purposes of carrying out the program, to use the services of the California Conservation Corps and Community Conservation Corps, as provided.
Existing law authorizes the conservancy to, among other things, undertake or fund projects for several purposes, including to implement site improvements, upgrade deteriorating facilities or construct new facilities for outdoor recreation, public access, nature appreciation and interpretation, and historic and cultural preservation.
This bill would require at least 60% of the funds allocated to fund or undertake the above-described projects to be for projects in heavily urbanized areas, as defined, of the lower Santa Ana River region, as defined, to benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations. The bill would define various terms for this purpose.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the above law relating to the conservancy’s use of the corps programs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF