Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act.

Budget

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Connolly
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact conditions that must be met for project approval.

Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act

This law allows project leaders to submit habitat restoration or enhancement projects for approval by the Fish and Wildlife Director, who can approve these projects without needing other permits. It also extends funding and reporting requirements until January 1, 2032.

What This Bill Does

Allows project leaders to ask the Fish and Wildlife Director to approve habitat restoration or enhancement projects.
Requires the director to approve a project if specified conditions are met, replacing the need for other permits from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Makes money in the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Account available to fund these projects upon appropriation by the Legislature.
Extends the law's operation until January 1, 2032.
Requires the department to report on how the act is working by December 31, 2029.

Who It Names or Affects

Project leaders who want to improve fish and wildlife habitats
The Fish and Wildlife Director
The Department of Fish and Wildlife

Terms To Know

Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Account: A fund that provides money for projects aimed at improving fish and wildlife habitats.
Project Proponent: The person or group who proposes a habitat restoration or enhancement project.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what the conditions are that must be met for project approval.
Does not detail how much money will be available from the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Account.
Requires reporting on implementation but does not provide details about what information should be included in the report.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14).
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2045, as amended, Connolly.
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act.
The Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act authorizes a project proponent to submit a habitat restoration or enhancement project to the Director of Fish and Wildlife for approval. Under the act, a habitat restoration or enhancement project is a project with the primary purpose of improving fish and wildlife habitat. The act requires the director to approve a habitat restoration or enhancement project if the director determines that specified conditions are met. Under the act, the director’s approval of a habitat restoration or enhancement project is in lieu of any other permit, agreement, license, or other approval issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The act makes moneys in the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Account available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of administering and implementing the act. Existing law repeals the
act on January 1, 2027.
This bill would extend the operation of the act
indefinitely.
until January 1, 2032, and would require the department to submit a report on the implementation of the act to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2029.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF