Assembly BillPassed first houseFish and Game
AB 2254: Coastal resources: monarch butterfly habitat.
What AB 2254 does, verified August 15, 2026
The bill aims to protect monarch butterfly overwintering habitat sites in the coastal zone. It requires the California Coastal Commission to develop guidance on model policies for local governments by July 1, 2027. Local governments must include monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site protection policies in their local coastal programs when they are amended after July 1, 2027. If the commission determines that the bill contains state-mandated costs, the state will reimburse local agencies and school districts for those costs.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-08-13)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions23 total · showing 5
| Aug. 13, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Aug. 03, 2026 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 1). |
| Jun. 24, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. |
Latest bill textAmended version, July 2, 2026 · 967 words
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 08, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2254
| Introduced by Assembly Member Addis (Coauthors: Assembly Members Zbur and Hart) |
February 19, 2026 |
An act to add Section 1021.5 to the Fish and Game Code, and to add Section 30505 to the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2254, as amended, Addis. Coastal resources: monarch butterfly habitat.
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and sets forth the duties of that department, which include administering various programs for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife. Existing law authorizes the department to take feasible actions to conserve monarch butterflies and the unique habitats they depend upon for successful migration.
Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, among other things, establishes the California Coastal Commission and provides for planning and regulation of development in the coastal zone, as defined.
This bill would require, on or before January July 1, 2028, the department, in coordination with the commission, to identify known monarch butterfly overwintering habitat sites in the coastal zone and current local government monarch butterfly overwintering habitat management plans or policies. The bill would also require, on or before July 1, 2028, 2029, the department, in coordination with the commission, to develop and provide guidance on model policies to be used by a local government for the protection of monarch butterfly overwintering habitat, including habitat restoration and enhancement. The bill would require, after the above-described guidance on model policies is finalized, a local government with a monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site located within their its jurisdiction and the coastal zone, as described, to to, on or before July 1, 2031, develop and implement enforceable monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site protection policies, as provided. By imposing additional duties on a local government, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1021.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:1021.5.
(a) On or before(1) Monarch Known monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) overwintering habitat sites in the coastal zone.
(2) Current local government monarch butterfly overwintering habitat management plans or policies.
(b) On or before July 1, 2028, 2029, the department, in coordination with the California Coastal Commission, shall develop and provide guidance on model policies that can be used by a local government for the protection of monarch butterfly overwintering habitat, including habitat restoration and enhancement, to address gaps in habitat protection plans in the coastal zone.
(1) (A) Model policies developed pursuant to this subdivision may include, but are not limited to, enforceable habitat management plans with measurable outcomes, local coastal program updates, and other local policies, such as ordinances, for protecting monarch butterflies that are locally enforceable with measurable outcomes.
(B) If the department provides guidance on model ordinances pursuant to this paragraph, the department shall adopt the model ordinances as regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(2) The department and the California Coastal Commission, in developing the guidance pursuant to this subdivision, may use existing datasets produced by local governments, organizations focused on the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats, and other relevant entities.
(3) (A) The department and the California Coastal Commission shall post the guidance developed pursuant to this subdivision on their internet websites.
(B) The guidance document posted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include the information identified pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Coastal zone” has the same meaning as defined in Section 30103 of the Public Resources Code.
(2) “Local coastal program” has the same meaning as defined in Section 30108.6 of the Public Resources Code.
SEC. 2.
Section 30505 is added to the Public Resources Code, immediately following Section 30504, to read:30505.
(a) After the guidance on model policies developed pursuant to Section 1021.5 of the Fish and Game Code is finalized, a local government with a monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site located within(b) A local government shall be encouraged to apply for grants administered pursuant to the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Rescue Program established by Section 1374 of the Fish and Game Code if the local government has monarch butterfly overwintering habitat site protection policies that are consistent with subdivision (a) and with the guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 1374 of the Fish and Game Code.
SEC. 3.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.Text of AB 2254 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions