All Roll Calls
Yes: 214 • No: 0
CaliforniaAB 7692025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Park, park and open-space, and open-space districts.
Sponsored By: Lori Wilson (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Park districts can build flood protections
District boards can build or buy works, structures, or embankments to protect district property from flood or storm waters. The board decides when this is necessary or advisable. Districts can also contract with flood control or other public agencies and grant rights‑of‑way over district land for the time needed to build these protections. This helps protect both district land and nearby private property.
Extra land deal tools for Bay Area districts
The East Bay Regional Park District and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District can approve leases up to 99 years without voter approval if two‑thirds of the board votes and finds the use is for parks, open space, or listed compatible purposes. The East Bay, Midpeninsula, and Sonoma County districts can exchange up to 80 acres per calendar year, and the new land must be adjacent to existing district land. If an equal land swap is not feasible with a public agency, the East Bay district may take cash equal to the highest and best market value, documented by a licensed appraiser. That money must be used to buy park or open-space land.
New spending powers for park districts
District boards must appoint a general manager and set that person's duties and pay. The general manager enforces district rules, manages staff, attends board meetings, and prepares the annual budget. With board approval and a policy adopted in an open meeting, the manager can make purchases up to $50,000 without advertising and must report them at the next regular meeting. The board can raise that limit by up to 2% for each fiscal year since the last change. In districts with 200,000+ people, the manager can buy equipment, supplies, and materials up to $150,000 per year. That $150,000 authority does not cover labor or services that district employees customarily perform.
Stronger rules for parkland sales and swaps
Districts can acquire property inside or outside their boundaries, including by purchase, gift, lease, or condemnation, when needed for parks and open space. Land under a district‑accepted open-space easement is enforceably restricted, and the board can dedicate such interests by resolution. A district cannot sell or give away land used for parks or open space without majority voter approval at a special election. Leases up to 50 years do not need voter approval, and the Legislature can authorize a sale after a two‑thirds board resolution naming the land. Districts may swap dedicated land only if two‑thirds of the board approves and the new land is equal or greater in value and needed for park or open-space use. Exchanges are capped at 10 acres per calendar year, and the acquired land must be next to other district land.
Old park district rules repealed
The law repeals Public Resources Code Sections 5545.5, 5558.1, and 5563.7. This cleans up the code. Any real‑world effects depend on what those sections previously did.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lori Wilson
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/8/2025
Item 10 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 79 • No: 0
Senate vote • 9/3/2025
Item 133 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 40 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/16/2025
Vote in CS82
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 5/12/2025
Item 71 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 78 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/30/2025
Vote in CX15
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 166, Statutes of 2025.
10/1/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/1/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
9/15/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3016.).
9/8/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/3/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2459.).
9/3/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
7/17/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16).
7/16/2025SenateReferred to Com. on L. GOV.
5/21/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
5/13/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 1515.)
5/12/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/6/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
5/5/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 30).
5/1/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
4/8/2025HouseFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
4/7/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
4/1/2025HouseFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
3/28/2025HouseReferred to Com. on L. GOV.
3/28/2025HouseFrom printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2/19/2025HouseRead first time. To print.
2/18/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/1/2025
Enrolled
9/10/2025
Amended Senate
7/17/2025
Amended Assembly
5/5/2025
Amended Assembly
4/7/2025
Amended Assembly
3/28/2025
Introduced
2/18/2025