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Committee advances measure to speed Coastal Commission plan amendments and reduce reporting frequency
Summary
AB 439 would remove the 10‑day waiting period for de minimis amendments to local coastal programs and allow less frequent comprehensive enforcement reporting by the Coastal Commission; sponsors said changes speed project approvals without weakening protections.
Assemblymember Rogers presented AB 439, which makes targeted changes to the Coastal Act’s implementation timeline: the bill would eliminate the 10‑day waiting period before certain de minimis amendments to local coastal programs and port master plans take effect unless more than three commissioners challenge the de minimis designation. The bill also revises how often the California Coastal Commission must produce comprehensive enforcement reports, moving to a less‑frequent but more comprehensive schedule while keeping underlying enforcement data available.
Sean Drake, legislative manager for the Coastal Commission, told the committee the statutory changes would let local governments and ports use amended plans to approve projects more quickly while not weakening coastal protections or public access policies. The Sierra Club voiced support at the hearing; no witnesses registered opposition in the room.
Senator Laird moved the bill. Committee members characterized AB 439 as a procedural efficiency change that would expedite local project approvals and reduce administrative burden for the Commission. The committee voted to pass AB 439 to Appropriations (motion recorded and placed on call during the hearing).
