SACRAMENTO – The California Legislature today adopted two measures by Senator John Laird to protect and celebrate California's coastline – Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 12 and Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 136.

SJR 12 expresses bipartisan opposition to the federal government’s proposed offshore oil and gas leasing program and calls for California to be excluded from any future offshore leasing plans. The resolution also urges federal officials to conduct a full environmental review and provide opportunities for public input, reinforcing longstanding concerns about the risks offshore drilling poses to coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and the state’s coastal economy.

“California has long led the nation in protecting our coast, and this resolution reaffirms that commitment,” said Laird. “We must continue working to protect our ocean, our communities, and the economic vitality that depends on a healthy coastline.”

SCR 136 commemorates 50 years of coastal protection in California. In 1976, the Legislature passed the Coastal Act and the Coastal Conservancy Act, which created and solidified in law the California Coastal Commission and State Coastal Conservancy. These complementary agencies protect coastal resources and public access while also facilitating growth and development.

“The coast is never ‘saved’ – it is always being saved,” said Laird. “For 50 years, California has made the choice to protect our coastline and SCR 136 celebrates that enduring commitment.”

Together, the measures reflect California’s continued leadership in protecting its coast both by defending it from emerging threats and by reaffirming the foundational policies that have protected it for generations.