AB 721 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Huron Hawk Conservancy.

Summary

Existing law authorizes various conservancies to acquire, manage, direct the management of, and conserve lands in the state. This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a general obligation bond, as provided, would establish the Huron Hawk Conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency for specified purposes related to the Huron Hawk area, as defined, including to acquire and manage public lands within the Huron Hawk area and to provide recreational, open space, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and lands for educational uses within the area. The bill would require the conservancy to be governed by a board of directors composed of designated membership, including certain members appointed by certain local agencies. The bill would set forth the powers, duties, and limitations of the board of directors and the conservancy, as provided. The bill would create the Huron Hawk Conservancy Fund and would make moneys in the fund available for expenditure by the conservancy, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of these provisions. The bill would authorize the conservancy to accept revenue generated and contributed to the conservancy by member agencies, as defined, which the bill would require to be deposited into the fund. The bill would also authorize the conservancy to accept revenue, money, grants, goods, and services contributed to the conservancy by a public agency, private entity, or person, and would require the revenue, money, and grants to be deposited into the fund. By imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/24/25 - Amended Assembly → 04/23/25 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Apr 23, 2025

MODERATE

The April 23 amendment to AB 721 adds a critical operative clause requiring that the Huron Hawk Conservancy only becomes functional upon legislative appropriation in the annual Budget Act or approval of a general obligation bond. It also broadens the criteria for appointing public board members to include organizations that specifically support the Huron Hawk area, adds a new section requiring the board to adopt rules and procedures, and removes a standalone intent statement about future parks legislation.

FISCAL

New Section 32543.13 makes the entire division operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act for conservancy purposes, or upon approval of a general obligation bond authorizing funds for the conservancy. This is a significant gate that delays the conservancy from becoming operational until funding is secured.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' and the state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting the new funding condition and the imposition of duties on local agencies.

ELIGIBILITY

The criteria for appointing public board members was broadened. Previously, candidates had to come from nonprofit organizations supporting outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. Now, organizations that 'support the Huron Hawk area' also qualify, with the previously listed issue areas described as priorities rather than strict requirements.

SCOPE

Section 32542(a)(2) was changed from 'To acquire open-space lands within the Huron Hawk area' to 'To acquire and manage open-space lands within the Huron Hawk area,' explicitly adding management authority over open-space lands as a distinct purpose.

The standalone section stating 'It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to enhance access to parks and open-space areas in the state' was removed entirely, eliminating the broader policy statement about future parks legislation.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 32542.8 requires the board to adopt rules and procedures for the conduct of business by the conservancy, establishing a procedural governance requirement not present in the prior version.

02/14/25 - Introduced → 03/24/25 - Amended Assembly · 7 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

AB 721 was transformed from a one-line intent resolution into a comprehensive bill establishing the Huron Hawk Conservancy, a new state agency within the Natural Resources Agency tasked with acquiring and managing approximately 3,000 acres of public land (the San Luis Canal Westside Detention Basin) in Fresno County near the City of Huron. The amended bill creates a dedicated fund, a 12-member governing board with specific appointment procedures, and grants the conservancy broad powers over land acquisition, management, grants to nonprofits, and site improvement projects. This represents a shift from a placeholder bill to one that would create an entirely new state agency with operational authority.

SCOPE

Establishes the Huron Hawk Conservancy as a new state agency within the Natural Resources Agency, with jurisdiction limited to the defined Huron Hawk area (approximately 3,000 acres of the San Luis Canal Westside Detention Basin in Fresno County).

The original Section 1 (legislative intent to enact subsequent legislation on parks access) is retained but renumbered as the final section of the bill, indicating it remains a standing legislative goal while the new conservancy provisions are added ahead of it.

FISCAL

Creates the Huron Hawk Conservancy Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys become available for expenditure upon legislative appropriation. The conservancy may also accept revenue, money, grants, goods, and services from member agencies, public agencies, private entities, or persons, which must be deposited into the fund.

REQUIREMENT

Establishes a 12-member board of directors with specific composition: one Fresno County Supervisor, the Huron Mayor or designee, the Fresno County Parks Director, three public members (appointed through a multi-step process involving the Senate Committee on Rules, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Governor), and representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Board, Natural Resources Agency, Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, Finance, and State Lands Commission. Quorum is six; decisions require five affirmative votes.

Grants the conservancy broad powers including: acquiring real property from willing sellers at fair market value, managing and operating lands and facilities, employing staff, recruiting volunteers, undertaking site improvement projects, providing technical assistance to landowners, awarding grants to local/state/federal agencies and nonprofits, entering contracts and joint powers agreements, and suing or being sued. The conservancy explicitly cannot levy taxes, regulate land use, or exercise eminent domain.

DEFINITION

Defines key terms including 'Huron Hawk area' (with specific geographic boundaries), 'board,' 'conservancy,' 'fund,' 'member agencies' (listing eight specific state and local entities), and 'nonprofit organization' (501(c)(3) organizations).

ENFORCEMENT

Adds state mandate reimbursement provisions (Section 2) requiring the Commission on State Mandates to determine if the act contains costs mandated by the state, with reimbursement made pursuant to Government Code Part 7. The fiscal committee designation changes from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changes from 'no' to 'yes.'

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

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

May 7, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 21).

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

lower

Mar 24, 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 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

lower

Feb 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors