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AB-43 • 2026

Wild and scenic rivers.

Wild and scenic rivers.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Schultz
Last action
2025-10-07
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 431, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how rivers are added to the system or any new requirements beyond extending existing deadlines.

Wild and Scenic Rivers Protection

This law extends indefinitely the period during which the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency can take actions to add rivers or river segments to California's wild and scenic rivers system.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends indefinitely the date by which the secretary is allowed to take actions related to adding rivers or parts of rivers to the state’s wild and scenic rivers system.
  • Removes the previous deadline of December 31, 2025, for taking these actions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency
  • Rivers and river segments in California

Terms To Know

Wild and Scenic Rivers System
A system that protects rivers with special natural, cultural, or recreational values.
Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency
The person in charge of managing California's natural resources.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify new actions beyond extending existing ones.
  • Does not change how rivers are added to the system, only extends when these actions can be taken.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-07 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 431, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-07 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2457.).

  6. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. 2025-07-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

  8. 2025-06-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  9. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  10. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  11. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 3. Page 1775.)

  12. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  13. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).

  14. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  15. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  16. 2025-02-03 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  17. 2024-12-03 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.

  18. 2024-12-02 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 43, Schultz.
Wild and scenic rivers.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to take specified actions relating to the addition of rivers or segments of rivers to the state’s wild and scenic rivers system if, among other things, the federal government enacts a statute that, upon enactment, would require the removal or delisting of any river or segment of a river in the state that was included in the national wild and scenic rivers system and not in the state wild and scenic rivers system. Existing law authorizes, only until December 31, 2025, the secretary to take action under these provisions to add a river or segment of a river to the state wild and scenic rivers system. Existing law requires those actions to remain in effect until December 31, 2025, except as otherwise provided.
This bill would indefinitely extend the date by which the secretary is
authorized to take the specified actions relating to the addition of rivers or segments of rivers to the state’s wild and scenic rivers system, as described above. The bill would also indefinitely extend the date that these actions remain in effect, except as otherwise provided.

Current Bill Text

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