Assemblymember Zbur Introduces Legislation to Protect California Public Lands

AB 1624, the Public Lands Protection Act, establishes strong conservation safeguards in response to recent federal legislative efforts that would have allowed public lands to be sold and privatized.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) today introduced AB 1624, the Public Lands Protection Act, bipartisan legislation designed to ensure that if federally owned public lands in California are ever sold or transferred to private ownership, those lands are preserved through California's open space and conservation-oriented land use designation. Sponsored by Environment California and Trout Unlimited, purchasers of federal lands would be required to seek state and local land-use approvals for development, ensuring that projects are consistent with the land's environmental, cultural, scenic, and recreational value.

The federal government has recently proposed the potential sale or privatization of large swaths of public land across the Western United States, including in California. While these elements did not move forward under the "Big, Beautiful Bill," the federal government has indicated an intent to revisit similar proposals in the future. To ensure that public lands in California are protected moving forward, AB 1624 takes a proactive, commonsense approach to reduce the risk that California's most ecologically, culturally, and recreationally significant lands could be lost to irreversible development if similar proposals are revived in the future.

"California's public lands belong to the people-not to the highest bidder," said Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood). "When federal protections are stripped away or federal lands are sold off, California must be ready to act. This bill ensures that our most cherished landscapes are protected from speculative development, environmental destruction, and irreversible harm. This bill doesn't stop the federal government from making its own decisions, but it does ensure that if public lands are sold in California, they are held to land-use standards aimed at protecting environmental, cultural, scenic, recreational, and natural resources."

California is home to millions of acres of federally owned land, including forests, wildlands, habitat corridors, and recreation areas that are deeply valued by residents, tribes, outdoor enthusiasts, and local communities. Because federally owned lands are often not subject to state or local zoning standards, their sale to private entities leaves federal lands unprotected in regard to how those lands may be used or developed. AB 1624 addresses this gap by applying California conservation-oriented zoning protections to any federal land sold or transferred to private ownership within the state.

"As we approach America's 250th birthday, we must consider what we want the U.S. to look like 250 years from now. Our descendants deserve the America the Beautiful we sometimes take for granted." said Laura Deehan, Environment California Director. "We need to protect our wildlife and preserve our national parks, national forests and the rest of our great outdoors. Assemblymember Rick Zbur's public lands bill gives the state Legislature a generational opportunity to benefit all Californians-Republican or Democrat, northern or southern, rural or urban. We look forward to working with all those groups on defending our wild places."

"California public lands are home to some of our country's most famous trout waters, including the Trinity River, Hot Creek, the Kern River, and Eagle Lake," said Matt Clifford, California Director, Trout Unlimited. "It's crucial that we protect the conservation value of these lands to sustain our unique outdoor heritage, and Trout Unlimited is proud to work with ranchers, timber companies, resource management agencies, and landowners to do that. That's why we are pleased to co-sponsor this legislation, which will sustain sporting opportunity and affirm the ability of local governments to designate lands according to local priorities. Public lands are the beating heart of fishing and hunting in the western United States. This bill will help prevent "No Trespassing" signs from clogging its arteries.

"I witnessed the designation of two new national monuments-the Chuckwalla and Sattitla Highlands, in Washington D.C. and was a proud principal co-author of the state resolutions in support of these designations," said Asm. James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Principal co-author. "Californians value our lands, and as a Native American, I know firsthand that tribes still practice religious and cultural ceremonies important to our faith and traditions. This measure takes the smart approach of ensuring that federal land in our state is shielded from future destructive purposes, and I am excited to sign on as a principal co-author of this bill."

"I am proud to join Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur as a co-author of this important legislation to protect California's public lands," said Asm. Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio), Principal co-author. "Throughout the 36th Assembly District, I have heard directly from community members, tribal leaders, conservation advocates, and land stewards about the deep responsibility we share to preserve places like Chuckwalla National Monument. These lands are not just open space, they carry history, culture, and stories that deserve to be protected and told for generations to come. This bill also respects local control by ensuring that any future development or rezoning can still move forward through existing state and local land use and environmental review processes. It ensures California has a voice in safeguarding our public lands and the values they represent."

"I'm proud to co-sponsor the Public Lands Protection Act to make clear that California's public lands are not for sale," said Asm. Dawn Addis (D-San Luis Obispo), Principal co-author. "At a moment when the federal government is floating the sale or privatization of public lands across our state, it is necessary to draw a firm line and stand ready to defend it for future generations."

"Public lands on the North Coast aren't just a critical component of our economy, they are bastions of recreation and conservation that enrich our communities and connect us to our history," stated Asm. Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa), Principle co-author. "Protecting public lands from our federal government shouldn't be a fight we need to have but here we are. I am proud to stand beside Assemblymember Zbur and my fellow principle co-authors to safeguard the beautiful and productive public lands across the state."

"I'm proud to join Assemblymember Zbur as a coauthor of this critical legislation to protect and preserve our precious public lands from unnecessary and unacceptable misuse," said Asm. Robert Garcia, (D-Rancho Cucamonga), co-author. "In addition to safeguarding California's sacred lands, this measure empowers local jurisdictions and ensures that any new development adheres to California's zoning, cultural, and climate guardrails, also ensuring responsible stewardship of all California land relinquished by the federal government."

AB 1624 will be heard in policy committee later this session as part of the Legislature's ongoing efforts to protect California's environment and public resources.

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur serves as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the California State Assembly and represents the 51st Assembly District, which includes Universal City, Hollywood, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other portions of Los Angeles.

CONTACT: Vienna Montague, (916) 319-2051, [email protected]