California Just Cited Our Work in a New State Law

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2051 into law on September 27, 2026, creating a new statewide effort to make permitting for coastal resilience projects more coordinated, efficient, and predictable. We’re proud to share that the bill specifically cites the Efficient Permitting Roadmap developed by Greater Farallones Association staff with NOAA and the North-Central California Coastal Sediment Coordination Committee. The law directs state agencies to develop recommendations for reducing the costs and delays that slow down projects protecting California’s coast from sea level rise.

The Roadmap was the first time federal, state, and local agencies across the region came together to document permitting roles and preferred approaches in one place: a collaborative process that resulted in shared, agency-endorsed guidance. That’s what the Legislature pointed to as a model.

Seeing this regional work cited as California takes on permitting reform statewide is a meaningful milestone and a reminder that the collaborative work we do along the north-central coast can contribute to solutions far beyond our region.

Photo by Wendy Kordesch