SACRAMENTO – On California Ocean Day, the State Senate passed two measures led by Senator John Laird to protect and celebrate the state’s coastline – Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 12 and Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 136. Both measures now head to the Assembly for consideration.

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.

“This resolution’s passage in the Senate sends a clear message that California stands united in opposing new offshore drilling along our coast,” 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 the 50^th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and the State Coastal Conservancy Act, the landmark laws that have guided coastal protection, public access, and responsible development along California’s 1,100-mile shoreline for five decades. The resolution highlights the acts’ enduring role in safeguarding the state’s natural resources while supporting vibrant coastal communities and economies.

“I remember what our coast looked like before these protections – when access was limited and development went unchecked,” said Laird. “What we’ve built over the last 50 years is something worth celebrating and continuing.”

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.