Senate committee clears bill to speed up State Parks land acquisitions

Senator Brian Allen on behalf of the author introduced SB 630 on the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee agenda, saying the bill would streamline how California State Parks acquires small parcels and eliminate duplicative review steps that have delayed transfers.

"This bill would streamline State Parks' real property transactions by removing duplicative reviews for simple acquisitions," Allen said, adding that reviews at the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Public Works Board have created delays that in some cases exceeded the value of the parcels involved.

The bill, supporters said, is targeted at small, largely donated parcels and would raise the threshold at which DGS must review and approve real estate transactions, while creating a seven‑year sunset and a reporting requirement for State Parks to update the Legislature on progress.

Reid Addis, principal of environmental and energy consulting, testified in support on behalf of the California State Parks Foundation, Save the Redwoods League and Sempervirens Fund. "This issue has been a major challenge for us, not only for years, but in some cases, decades," Addis said, describing nonprofit efforts to raise funds and negotiate donations of land that are stalled by lengthy state review.

Jake Schultz, representing MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District, the California Association of Local Conservation Corps, Save Mount Diablo and Save the Redwoods League, also spoke in support.

Committee members questioned the bill's effect on public process and park maintenance funding. Senator Laird and other members said the measure was narrow in scope and intended to avoid eliminating existing opportunities for public input, while Vice Chair Sciardo raised concerns that adding more parcels could increase competition for already scarce maintenance dollars.

Committee staff and the bill author said the text preserves the public process that occurs through State Parks' existing procedures and that the change simply removes duplicative DGS review in defined circumstances. The author and staff said the bill is limited to smaller acquisitions and includes language intended to exclude parcels requiring new infrastructure.

After discussion the committee took a formal motion that "the Assembly amendments be concurred in." Senator Laird moved the motion. The committee recorded the following votes: Senator Lamone — Aye; Senator Seardo — No; Senator Allen — Aye; Senator Laird — Aye; Senator Stern — Aye. Senators Grove and Hurtado were not present for the roll call. The committee recorded a 4–1 vote with two members absent, and the motion carried. The chair announced the bill "is out" of committee.

The hearing record includes multiple references to backlog and scale: witnesses and members cited roughly 52 projects totaling about 33,000 acres held up in acquisition backlogs, and members discussed examples of small acquisitions where administrative review costs have exceeded purchase amounts. Committee discussion and testimony also referenced prior and parallel legislative efforts, including earlier bills by Assemblymember Pellerin and work to align Public Works Board and Natural Resources Agency processes.

SB 630 was presented as a targeted, temporary change to speed transfers of small parcels to State Parks while preserving opportunities for public comment through the parks' existing processes. The bill includes a seven‑year sunset and reporting requirement; it does not change broader funding levels for park operations or backlog maintenance.

The committee adjourned after the vote.