NEWS: Legislation Cutting Green Tape for Expanding California State Parks Now Law

Sempervirens Fund Applauds Governor Newsom’s Actions to Sign AB 679 and SB 630 Into Law

Contact: Matt Shaffer, mshaffer@sempervirens.org, (415) 609-2750

Aerial view of the Gateway to Big Basin, a 153-acre redwood forest along Highway 236. Photo: Jordan Plotsky

Mountain View, Calif.: Today, Sempervirens Fund, California’s first land trust, hailed Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to sign AB 679 (Pellerin – Santa Cruz) into law. AB 679 streamlines the process for California State Parks to acquire critical lands for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks. By removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, while maintaining transparency and fairness, this legislation ensures that conservation partners and the state can work more efficiently together to advance existing plans, safeguard redwood forests, and rebuild resilience after the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fire.

“AB 679 cuts the green tape to accelerate the protection of habitat, expand parklands, and restore damaged landscapes—strengthening climate resilience and community recovery in the Santa Cruz Mountains,” said Sara Barth, Sempervirens Fund’s Executive Director. “This bill provides greater certainty for conservation organizations and accelerates the work of protecting redwoods for future generations. We are grateful to the Governor for advancing this breakthrough policy.”

“After three years of hard work, we did it! AB 679 is now law, paving the way for Big Basin to rise from the ashes stronger than ever,” said Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. “This victory cuts through green tape so California State Parks and conservation partners can move quickly to protect our majestic redwoods, expand parklands, and bring new life to Big Basin and other parks devastated by the CZU Fire. I am deeply grateful to the Governor for signing this bill—and to Sempervirens Fund for sponsoring it and standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this effort. Together, we are delivering on a promise to the people of Santa Cruz County: a resilient, restored, and accessible state park for generations to come.”

Sempervirens Fund is proud to support this important step toward a more resilient, thriving redwood landscape.

“This legislation has been championed by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin since she took office in 2023 and we are forever grateful for her persistence and steadfast dedication to the recovery of parks impacted by the 2020 CZU wildfire,” added Barth. “This achievement would also not be possible without the leadership of Senator John Laird and Department of Parks and Recreation leadership, including Wade Crowfoot, Armando Quintero, and Darla Guenzler, and California State Parks Santa Cruz District Superintendent Chris Spohrer.”

“I am pleased Governor Newsom has signed AB 679 into law. This is a major victory for the redwoods and for the people of the Santa Cruz Mountains,” said Senator John Laird. “By enabling faster, more efficient land acquisition while upholding transparency and fairness, this law strengthens our ability to restore and expand our treasured parks in the aftermath of the CZU wildfire. Together with California State Parks and our conservation partners, we have the tools we needed to act with urgency and purpose.”

Over the past few years, Assemblymember Pellerin has been spearheading variations of AB 679, but while earlier versions had advanced through the legislature, they have not been signed into law. This year, not only did AB 679 get the Governor’s signature, but it provided the template for companion legislation, SB 630 (Allen – El Segundo), which similarly streamlines the process for California State Parks to acquire critical lands for state parks throughout California. The features of SB 630 are similar to AB 679, with minor distinctions, including a cap on the fair market value of the land available for purchase by the State. Sempervirens Fund also applauds Governor Newsom for signing SB 630 into law.

“Assemblymember Pellerin’s vision for AB 679 in 2023 was essential for modeling a statewide approach, SB 630, which together establishes a major breakthrough for advancing state park expansion statewide,” added Barth. “The two laws, in tandem, usher in a new era for state parks’ new future.”

View of Santa Cruz Mountains from Castle Rock State Park. Photo by Orenda Randuch.

AB 679 was pursued, in part, to accelerate the recovery of Big Basin State Park in accordance with their Reimaging Big Basin planning, which includes the establishment of a new entrance at Saddle Mountain. Since the fire, Sempervirens Fund has protected almost 200 acres of land for expanding Big Basin at Saddle Mountain and is already pursuing transfers of those properties.

In August 2023, Sempervirens transferred 222 acres and six properties to California State Parks for Castle Rock State Park. “While the 2023 expansion of Castle Rock State Park was the result of invaluable partnership with the state on the due diligence of a complex real estate transaction, having legislation like AB 679 in place would have accelerated those transfers,” added Barth. “Now that the green tape has been cut, we anticipate a faster process for expanding Big Basin at Saddle Mountain.”