The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires oceanfront land suitable for recreational use to be protected for recreational use and development unless present and foreseeable future demand for public or commercial recreational activities that could be accommodated on the property is already adequately provided for in the area. Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities for implementing and administering various programs intended to preserve, protect, and restore the states coastal areas. Existing law establishes surfing as the official state sport.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2026, the conservancy to establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve, as defined. The bill would authorize a local government, as defined, to apply to the conservancy for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. The bill would require the local government to include in its application, among other things, a description of the proposed surfing reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to approve the application if the area of the coastline meets the established criteria. The bill would require, once the application is approved, the conservancy to designate the area as a state surfing reserve and to include this designation, where appropriate, in publications or maps that are issued by the conservancy. reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to, upon appropriation, publicize the state surfing reserve and partner with local governments to erect signs designating an approved surfing reserve, and would authorize the conservancy to accept donations for these purposes. The bill would authorize the conservancy to revoke the designation if the surfing reserve no longer meets the established criteria. The bill would require the conservancy to transmit notice of the approval of a designated surfing reserve to the Ocean Protection Council for consideration and inclusion in the states 30x30 goal.

The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires oceanfront land suitable for recreational use to be protected for recreational use and development unless present and foreseeable future demand for public or commercial recreational activities that could be accommodated on the property is already adequately provided for in the area. Existing law establishes the State Coastal Conservancy with prescribed powers and responsibilities for implementing and administering various programs intended to preserve, protect, and restore the states coastal areas. Existing law establishes surfing as the official state sport.

This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2026, the conservancy to establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve, as defined. The bill would authorize a local government, as defined, to apply to the conservancy for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. The bill would require the local government to include in its application, among other things, a description of the proposed surfing reserve. The bill would require the conservancy to approve the application if the area of the coastline meets the established criteria. The bill would require, once the application is approved, the conservancy to designate the area as a state surfing reserve and to include this designation, where appropriate, in publications or maps that are issued by the conservancy. The bill would authorize the conservancy to revoke the designation if the surfing reserve no longer meets the established criteria.

Date of Hearing: April 23, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 452

Author:(Irwin) – As Amended Ver:April 9, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), by July 1, 2026, to establish criteria and an application process for purposes of designating an area of the coastline as a state surfing reserve.

In addition, this bill, among other things:

1. Authorizes SCC to require, as one of the criterion, a letter of recommendation for the designation of a state surfing reserve from the California Coastal Commission (CCC).
2. Requires SCC, when establishing criteria for purposes of the state surfing reserve designation, to consider factors, including wave quality and consistency, surf culture and history, environmental characteristics, and management priorities.
3. Authorizes a local government, after adopting a formal resolution, to apply to SCC for purposes of designating an area of the coastline within the jurisdiction of the local government as a state surfing reserve. Requires the local government to include specified information in its application.
4. Requires SCC to approve the application from the local government if the area of the coastline meets the established criteria. Requires SCC, once the application is approved, to designate the area as a state surfing reserve.
5. Requires SCC, as appropriate and upon appropriation by the Legislature, to publicize approved surfing reserves and partner with local governments to erect signs designating approved surfing reserves. Allows SCC to accept donations for this purpose.
6. Provides that, if, at any time, SCC determines that the designated state surfing reserve no longer meets the criteria established pursuant to this bill, SCC may revoke its designation as a state surfing reserve.
7. Requires SCC to transmit a notice of approval of designated state surfing reserves to the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) for consideration and inclusion in the state’s goal to conserve at least 30% of coastal waters pursuant to SB 337, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2023.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1) SCC will incur one-time and ongoing costs, likely in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, to implement the requirements of this bill.

SCC estimates startup costs of approximately $800,000 (General Fund) for one full-time Conservancy Project Development Specialist (CPDS) in an ongoing capacity ($233,000); one attorney to work on the rulemaking process during the first 18 months ($244,000); and $200,000 in one-time contracting costs to hire a consultant to assist in developing and defining the required criteria. SCC notes it does not have internal staff expertise on some of the criteria (such a wave quality and consistency and surf culture and history). Once the program is established, SCC estimates ongoing annual costs of approximately $250,000 for the full-time CPDS as well as travel and other costs.

This committee notes that the bill’s implementation date of July 1, 2026, is likely infeasible given that SCC’s implementation costs are not absorbable within existing resources.

2) Costs of an unknown, but likely minor, amount to CCC and OPC.

COMMENTS:

1) Purpose. According to the author:

Similar to our state’s Scenic Highway designations, AB 452 will create a process for state designated surfing reserves in order to recognize the cultural, economic, and ecological importance of California’s surf zones. This designation will encourage economic benefits to local communities, encourage the preservation of cherished surfing areas and will assist California in meeting our goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.

2) Background. The United States boasts approximately 3.3 million surfers who spend between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion each year on local surf trips. The surfing industry, based almost exclusively in California, generates over $6 billion in United States annual retail sales. In recognition of the importance and contributions of surfing to California, the Legislature enacted AB 1782 (Gray), Chapter 162, Statutes of 2018, to name surfing the official sport of California. That same year, the Legislature named September 20 as California Surfing Day. California will be hosting the 2028 Olympics in which surfing will be a focus for a worldwide audience.

Writing in support of this bill, the Save the Waves Coalition contends that specific recognition of surf reserves “allows local communities to identify and plan for ecological protections, continue efforts at water quality improvement, and complete coastal access and management priorities for a safe and accessible coastline in California.” Save the Waves created a program 15 years ago that identifies, designates, and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones, and their surrounding environments around the world as World Surfing Reserves. There are 13 designated sites worldwide with two in California: Santa Cruz and Malibu.

In October 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-82-20, which establishes a state goal of conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 – known as 30x30. The 30x30 goal was codified by SB 337 (Min). This bill requires SCC to provide a notice of approval of designated state surfing reserves to OPC for consideration and inclusion in the state’s 30x30 goal.

3) Prior Legislation. AB 2177 (Irwin), of the 2021-22 Legislative Session, was substantially similar to this bill and was held in this committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081