California Assembly Bill AB2216

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/19/26
• Refer: 3/9/26
• Report Pass: 3/24/26
• Refer: 3/24/26
• Report Pass: 4/6/26
• Refer: 4/7/26
• Report Pass: 4/14/26
• Refer: 4/14/26
• Refer: 4/22/26
• Report Pass: 5/14/26
• Engrossed: 5/26/26
• Refer: 5/27/26
• Refer: 6/3/26

Caption

An act to amend Sections 32300, 32301, 32310, 32320, 32330, 32340, 32350, 32360, 32360.5, 32362, 32363, 32364, 32364.5, and 32376 of, to amend the heading of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 32320) of Division 22.3 of, to amend the heading of Division 22.3 (commencing with Section 32300) of, and to add Section 32361 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to conservation.

Summary

AB 2216 would rename the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy as the Valley and Delta Conservancy and expand its jurisdiction beyond the Delta to include specified lands in Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, and San Joaquin counties that are outside the Delta. It would also rename the conservancy fund, update statutory references throughout the Public Resources Code, and establish a new Valley Program within the conservancy to support environmental protection and economic well-being in the Valley. The bill keeps the conservancy within the Natural Resources Agency and preserves its role as a state agency working with local governments and other interested parties. The bill broadens the conservancy’s mission to cover both the Delta and the Valley, with an emphasis on ecosystem restoration, habitat protection, water quality, climate resilience, working lands, recreation, workforce development, and support for legacy communities. It authorizes the conservancy to partner with and provide grants and loans to tribal organizations in addition to nonprofit organizations, local public agencies, state agencies, and landowners. It also adds liaison advisers from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the San Joaquin River Conservancy, and updates the strategic plan requirements so they address land use, flood management, habitat, and related planning efforts across the expanded region.

Impact

AB 2216 would amend multiple sections of the Public Resources Code governing the Delta conservancy framework, replacing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy with the Valley and Delta Conservancy and expanding the geographic scope of its authority. It would create a new Valley and Delta Conservancy Fund, authorize a separate economic sustainability program, and require that Valley-specific funding be appropriated by the Legislature before it can be used. The bill would also expand eligible partners and grantees to include tribal organizations, and it would revise board, liaison, office, meeting, grant, and planning provisions to reflect the broader jurisdiction.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests generally favorable support for the bill. It passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee 11-1 and the Assembly Appropriations Committee 14-0, indicating broad committee backing with limited opposition at the policy stage. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded discussion to indicate broader public or stakeholder sentiment beyond the votes.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the bill’s expansion of the conservancy’s mission and territory, and the associated implications for funding priorities and governance. The bill explicitly limits Valley funding to amounts that are separately appropriated, which appears designed to address concerns about diverting existing Delta or Suisun Marsh resources, but that funding structure could still be a point of debate. Another likely issue is whether expanding a Delta-focused conservancy into the Valley is the best administrative model, especially for stakeholders concerned about regional balance, board representation, and how conservation goals interact with agriculture, water management, and economic development. The addition of tribal organizations as eligible partners is an expansion of authority that may be welcomed by many but could also prompt questions about implementation and coordination.