AB-1548 • 2026

Conservation: the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority.

Agriculture Education Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Pellerin
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how funds will be raised or spent, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority

This law creates a new group called the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority, which will raise and allocate funds to protect and improve natural and working lands in three California counties.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority for managing land in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Sets up a board of nine members from local government and public groups to run the authority.
Allows the authority to give grants for projects that protect or improve natural and working lands.
Gives the authority permission to collect money through taxes or fees and apply for federal and state grants.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Local government officials who will be part of the board

Terms To Know

natural lands: areas like forests, parks, or beaches that are not developed for buildings or roads.
working lands: land used for farming, ranching, or other activities where people work with the land to produce goods.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be raised or spent.
It is unclear what specific projects will receive grants from the authority.
Local governments may need to pay for costs related to the new authority's duties.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (April 13).
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and L. GOV.
2026-01-08 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 7.
2026-01-07 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1548, as amended, Pellerin.
Conservation: the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority.
Existing law establishes various entities for specified purposes over specific geographic areas of the state, including the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, among others.
This bill would establish the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority, a regional entity with jurisdiction extending throughout the Monterey Bay region, as defined. The bill would provide that the purpose of the authority is to raise and allocate public and private funds for restoring, enhancing, protecting, engaging in long-term stewardship, and improving access for the enjoyment of natural and working lands, as defined, in the Counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz, as specified. The bill would establish a 9-member governing board to govern the authority that consists of county board of supervisors, city
officials, and public members of these counties, as specified. The bill would require the board to, among other things, establish policies for the operation of the authority, and convene an advisory committee to assist and advise the board in carrying out its functions. The bill would authorize the authority to award grants to public and private entities for eligible projects, including projects that restore, protect, enhance, or maintain natural, working, or open space lands in the Counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz, as specified. The bill would also authorize the authority to, among other things, levy a benefit assessment, special tax, or property related fee, apply for and receive grants from federal and state agencies, solicit and accept gifts, fees, grants, and allocations from public and private entities, issue revenue bonds, incur general bond indebtedness, and enter into joint powers agreements, as provided.
By imposing additional duties on
local governmental agencies relating to the membership of the authority’s governing board, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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