Assembly BillIntroducedPublic Resources
AB 2578: Outdoor recreation: outdoor economy: strategic initiatives: support organizations.
What AB 2578 does, verified May 16, 2026
<p>The bill authorizes the Natural Resources Agency to enter into a statewide agreement with a support organization to facilitate and implement certain objectives related to outdoor recreation. After entering into this agreement, both parties are required to collaborate on developing an annual list of strategic initiatives and projects that address statewide priorities. The bill also allows specific individuals, such as the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the support organization’s board of directors.</p>
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions8 total · showing 5
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 29, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 20, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr. 16, 2026 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr. 15, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14). |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 16, 2026 · 1,793 words
| Amended IN Assembly April 16, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2578
| Introduced by Assembly Member Rogers |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to add Article 1.8 (commencing with Section 526) to Chapter 1 of Division 1 of the Public Resources Code, relating to outdoor recreation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2578, as amended, Rogers. Public recreation access and outdoor economy support organizations. Outdoor recreation: outdoor economy: strategic initiatives: support organizations.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into a statewide agreement with a park support organization to facilitate the implementation of reforms recommended by the Parks Forward Commission and to develop and secure expertise, services, resources, and projects that are not readily available to the state park system, for specified purposes.
This bill would authorize the Natural Resources Agency to enter into a statewide agreement with a public recreation access and outdoor economy support organization organization, as defined, to facilitate and implement certain objectives, and would require the agency and support organization to, after entering into a statewide agreement, collaborate to develop an annual list of strategic initiatives and projects that are statewide priorities, as provided. The bill would authorize certain persons, including the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the support organization’s board of directors, as provided.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a)Changes to existing law are necessary to facilitate the implementation of recommendations advanced by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s
(a) Outdoor industry encompasses gear design, tourism, hospitality, and guided experiences, including fishing and hunting, and contributes significantly to the economy, including a record $1.2 trillion in total national output and $81.5 billion in California in 2023.
(b) The Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development’s Jobs First report, and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience, and future similar reports Resilience include recommendations to optimize public recreation access opportunities and support recreation as an economic driver through enhanced engagement in California’s outdoors and our natural landscapes.
(b)
(c) There are numerous existing nonprofit support organizations collaborating with the Natural Resources Agency and its many departments to promote the health, fitness, mental, and economic values of outdoor engagement.
(c)
(d) Among the many collaborating organizations, Parks California is a codified support organization dedicated to interfacing with the Department of Parks and Recreation to advance priority programmatic and capital improvement projects identified by the department in conjunction with Parks California.
(d)
(e) The success of Parks California as a support organization encourages the creation of a separate support organization dedicated to collaborating with the Natural Resources Agency and its departments on the coordination and implementation of several initiatives to facilitate greater engagement with California’s outdoors, which will lead to beneficial outcomes, including economic development opportunities.
(e)
(f) Among the many economic benefits that could be realized are expanded branding and promotion of the outdoors on federal, state, regional, local, and private lands and greater federal, state, and local collaboration with gateway communities to transition from mining and lumber to recreation-based economies.
(f)
(g) Through the leadership of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Outdoor Industry Association, and the Confluence of States, nearly 50 percent of the states in the union have created some iteration of an office, division, or department within state government specifically designed to capitalize on the health, fitness, and economic benefits inherent in the public-outdoors interface.
(g)
(h) The Natural Resources Agency would benefit from establishing a new strategic partnership with a nonprofit support organization dedicated to promoting access to the outdoors in all landscapes that would complement and support the work of the agency and other state entities, including the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, by bringing new resources, expertise, and flexibility to assist the agency in accomplishing its mission.
SEC. 2.
Article 1.8 (commencing with Section 526) is added to Chapter 1 of Division 1 of the Public Resources Code, to read:Article 1.8. Public Recreation Access and Outdoor Economy Support Organization
526.
For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:(a) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.
(b) “Outdoor access” means the ability, right, or opportunity for all people to safely and equitably enter and use outdoor recreation spaces, ranging from public parks to private land, for outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking, camping, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and off-roading. activities.
(c)“Outdoor business” means a commercial enterprise focused on products, services, or experiences that take place in natural or outdoor environments.
(d)
(c) “Outdoor economy” means the gross output, compensation, employment, and value-added gross domestic product (GDP) generated by activities that occur outdoors, including conventional core activities, including fishing, hiking, and hunting, other activities, including gardening, and supporting activities, including tourism.
(e)“Outdoor industry” means commercial enterprises, manufacturers, retailers, service providers, and nonprofit organizations that facilitate, promote, or equip activities centered on nature-based adventure through human-powered recreation or motorized activities with an appreciation for conservation. Outdoor industry encompasses gear design, tourism, hospitality, and guided experiences, including fishing and hunting, and contributes significantly to the economy, including a record $1.2 trillion in total national output and $81.5 billion in California in 2023.
(f)
(d) “Outdoor recreation” means all recreational activities responsibly undertaken for pleasure that occur outdoors, including human-powered and motorized activities if the activity takes place in a natural environment. environment with a respect for conservation, wildlife, habitat, and off-limit areas. Outdoor recreation includes hiking, biking, surfing, camping, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, hunting, fishing, off-roading, and adaptive outdoor sports with responsible recreation principles and conservation at the forefront.
(g)
(e) “Priority list” means the annual list of strategic initiatives and projects developed by the agency and the support organization pursuant to Section 527.2.
(h)“Public recreation access and outdoor economy support
(f) “Support organization” means a nonprofit organization that meets the following requirements:
(1) Is exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) Is established for the principal purposes of increasing outdoor access and promoting expanded recreation opportunities on, and within, California’s diverse landscapes to support mental, physical, and economic health objectives in the state.
(3) Complies with the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12580) of Chapter 6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(i)“Support organization” means a public recreation access and outdoor economy support organization.
527.
(a) The agency may enter into a statewide agreement with a support organization to facilitate and implement, among other objectives, the findings and recommendations of the department’s Outdoors for All initiative, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development’s Jobs First report,(1) Developing and engaging new sources of public and private funding for the vast network of outdoor businesses and outdoor industry outlets owned, administered, or supported by the agency, including philanthropic sources and enterprise- and revenue-generating activities, where appropriate. strengthening the outdoor economy to better support the workforce, mitigate seasonal fluctuations, attract new opportunities and experiences, and generate funds to support the sustainable operation of outdoor recreational amenities and activities.
(2) Supporting marketing and communications activities that promote the programs, amenities, and resources of the agency, its departments, and its partners.
(3) Supporting programs, policies, projects, and completion of and projects that facilitate increased responsible outdoor recreation, outdoor access, and visitations visitation to visitor-serving amenities and facilities, including, but not limited to, the establishment of new trail corridors that connect people to nature and communities and communities, the establishment of bicycle greenway routes or systems. systems, and the maintenance, operation, stewardship, and mitigation of new and existing amenities and facilities.
(4) Supporting and providing recommendations to a designated state director, if the state joins the Confluence of States.
(4)
(5)
Enhancing outdoor recreation and conservation educational opportunities, particularly for younger and more diverse audiences.(5)
(6)
Promoting the health and well-being of the state’s residents.(6)
(7)
Promoting or developing strategic research, data collection, and economic modeling for, among other things, tracking outdoor recreation trends and outdoor participation rates in California.(7)
(8)
Providing(8)
(9)
Reinforcing and building upon the inclusivity of the definition of “outdoor recreation”(10) Prioritizing a coexistence between outdoor recreationists, wildlife, biodiversity, and habitat with a purpose to protect and preserve wildlife habitats and inspire conservationists for generations to come.
(11) Initiating collaboration with existing tribal entities and maintaining respect for their wishes for the land and waters on which we recreate.
(b) (1) To complement these efforts, the agency and support organization shall collaborate with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development on a suite of interventions designed to promote the outdoors, including, but not limited to, the implementation of the following:
(A) Regional industry sector activation plans for the recreation and tourism sector.
(B) Regional economic development strategies.
(C) Regional tourism strategies that support, but do not duplicate duplicate, efforts underway by Visit California.
(2) The collaboration pursuant to paragraph (1) shall organize and prioritize recommendations rooted in the work of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience.
(3) The collaboration pursuant to paragraph (1) shall establish a single point of contact as a federal lands liaison to communicate and respond to federal policies and practices of impact to federal lands within California and stakeholder interests.
(c) If the agency enters into an agreement with a support organization, the support organization, in consultation with the agency, shall do the following:
(1) Communicate and coordinate with government entities, partners, friends, and volunteers to ensure that activities undertaken pursuant to the agreement complement, support, facilitate, and amplify ongoing partnerships, programs, and projects in support of increasing access to the outdoors.
(2) Engage with public agencies and organizations that manage, operate, and support protected lands in the state.
Text of AB 2578 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions