The California Legislature is back in session and with it comes a fresh wave of bills that will shape the future of our ocean, waves, and beaches. This year, Surfrider California is engaging on 14 pieces of legislation – so far! – and we want you to be part of the effort.
Whether you’ve never followed a bill before or you’re a seasoned advocate, we’ve built something to make it easy: our 2026 Legislation Tracker, a live hub where you can see every bill we’re tracking, what position we’ve taken, and why it matters.
Visit the tracker at california.surfrider.org/2026-legislation.
How Does the California Legislature Actually Work?
The California Legislature is made up of two chambers: the State Assembly (80 members) and the State Senate (40 members). Bills can be introduced in either chamber and must pass both before heading to the Governor’s desk.
The legislative session runs roughly from January through mid-September each year. Here’s a simplified look at the key stages a bill moves through:
Introduction (January–February): Any member of the Assembly or Senate can introduce a bill. At this stage, the bill is assigned a number — like AB 762 (Assembly Bill) or SB 58 (Senate Bill) — and referred to committee.
Committee Hearings (February–June): Most bills are heard first in policy committees, where members can vote to pass, amend, or kill a bill. This is often where public testimony matters most.
Appropriations (May–June): Bills with a fiscal impact are reviewed by the Appropriations Committee to assess cost to the state.
Floor Votes (June–September): Bills that pass committee go to a full floor vote in their originating chamber, then cross over to the other chamber and repeat the process.
Governor’s Desk (September–October): Bills passed by both chambers go to the Governor, who has until mid-October to sign or veto them.
Understanding this process matters because the window to influence legislation is narrow and often concentrated in committee hearings. When you know where a bill is in the process, you know when your voice has the most impact.
What We’re Watching in 2026
This session, Surfrider California has taken positions on 14 bills spanning our five Initiative areas. Here’s a snapshot:
🌊 Ocean Protection
We’re supporting two bills that strengthen offshore pipeline safety (AB 1536) and designate the sea lion as California’s official state pinniped (SB 1286) — a fun but meaningful step for marine mammal recognition.
🐢 Plastic Pollution
Four bills in this category, three we support, one we oppose. We’re backing a ban on disposable nicotine vapes (AB 762), a crackdown on deceptive recycling claims (AB 2253), and a new Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund (SB 1180). We’re actively opposing AB 2226, which would repeal California’s hard-won plastic bag ban.
🌅 Coasts & Climate
Three bills here reflect the growing challenge of managing California’s coast in the face of climate change. We support AB 1938 (surf reserves as protected conservation areas) and SB 1229 (protecting coastal access after disasters like the LA fires). We oppose AB 2373, which would create a dangerous loophole in the Coastal Act enabling new hard armoring.
⛱️ Beach Access
We’re opposing AB 1740, which uses multi-modal transit as cover to weaken Coastal Act protections, and backing AB 2734, which reforms the Whale Tail License Plate to direct more funding toward coastal access and outdoor education. We also support SB 1268, the Outdoors for All initiative.
💧 Clean Water
We’re supporting two bills here. AB 1744 would crack down on misleading “reef-friendly” sunscreen labeling, and SB 58 would establish updated hydrogen sulfide air quality standards, protecting coastal communities from industrial pollution.
Stay Connected
The tracker is updated as bills move through the process. Each bill card links directly to the CalMatters Digital Democracy page for real-time status, and to Surfrider’s campaign page where you can learn more about our position – and we’ll be adding Take Action opportunities soon!
Bookmark it, share it, and check back often: california.surfrider.org/2026-legislation.