AB 274 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Abandoned and derelict vessels: inventory.

Summary
Existing law establishes within the Natural Resources Agency, the State Lands Commission consisting of the Controller, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Director of Finance. Existing law vests in the commission with exclusive jurisdiction over all ungranted tidelands and submerged lands owned by the state, and of the beds of navigable rivers, streams, lakes, bays, estuaries, inlets, and straits, including tidelands and submerged lands. Existing law authorizes the commission to take immediate action to remove from areas under its jurisdiction a vessel that is left unattended and is moored, docked, beached, or made fast to land in a position as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or in a condition as to create a hazard to navigation, other vessels using a waterway, or the property of another. Existing law requires the commission, by July 1, 2019, and in consultation with other relevant state and local agencies directly involved in the removal of abandoned vessels, to develop a plan for the removal of abandoned commercial vessels. This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2027, to create an inventory of all abandoned and derelict commercial and recreational vessels on or in waters within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including commercially navigable waters, as specified. The bill would require the inventory to include specified information about each vessel, including, among other things, the number of commercial and recreational vessels located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the estimated size and weight of each commercial or recreational vessel. The bill would make these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

01/21/25 - Introduced 03/03/25 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Mar 3, 2025
MODERATE
AB 274 was substantially expanded from a minor cleanup of wrecked property language in the Harbors and Navigation Code to a bill that also requires the State Lands Commission to inventory all abandoned and derelict commercial and recreational vessels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by January 1, 2027. The amendment adds legislative findings about environmental hazards from abandoned vessels, new definitions, and a special statute declaration tied to the Delta's unique geography. The inventory requirement is contingent on legislative appropriation.
SCOPE

Added an entirely new Section 6112 to the Public Resources Code requiring the State Lands Commission to create an inventory of all abandoned and derelict commercial and recreational vessels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including commercially navigable waters.

Added legislative findings declaring that abandoned and derelict vessels contain hazardous materials (solvents, asbestos, PCBs, lead paint, petroleum products) and create navigation, environmental, and public health hazards in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

REQUIREMENT

The inventory must include the number of vessels, estimated size and weight of each vessel, estimated hazardous contents, whether vessels are near commercial or community water sources, and estimated removal costs. Data must be broken down by county, vessel type, and vessel size.

TIMELINE

Set a deadline of January 1, 2027 for completion of the vessel inventory, contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature.

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'commercial vessel' (including ferries, tugs, barges, cranes, dredges, workboats, fishing trawlers, military craft, and marine debris) and 'commercially navigable waters' (surface water used or capable of being used for commercial navigation, including adjacent tributaries).

TECHNICAL

Added a special statute declaration under Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution, stating that a general statute cannot apply due to the unique makeup of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its waterways.

Made minor grammatical corrections to Section 512 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, fixing awkward phrasing around when a sheriff must take possession of wrecked property.

FISCAL

Changed the fiscal committee designation from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal committee review due to the new inventory mandate.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
4
Committee
7
Amendments
3
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
In committee: Held under submission.
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (March 24).
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rhodesia Ransom
Rhodesia Ransom
DDemocratic
CA
13