California’s new state budget brings both welcome wins and looming uncertainties for the future of our state parks. On June 27, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California’s $321 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025–26. This balanced budget outlines the state’s priorities across education, housing, climate, and infrastructure — and includes important provisions affecting California’s state parks system. Here’s what park supporters should know:
California State Library Parks Pass Program Restored
One major win for equitable access to parks: the budget includes $6.75 million for the State Parks Library Pass Program. After a close call where the pass wasn’t included in the first draft of the budget, California State Parks Foundation quickly mobilized community advocates to contact their Legislators and get the funding restored. This popular program allows Californians to check out free day-use entry passes to state parks through their local libraries. Renewed funding means more people across the state — regardless of income — can continue to experience the benefits of nature, recreation, and public lands.
We are grateful to the Legislature and Governor Newsom for recognizing the importance of this program. We would also like to thank Senator Catherine Blakespear for publicly advocating for its restoration at the Senate Budget Committee hearing.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Reforms: New Exemptions and Considerations
Through SB 131, the legislature enacted a set of reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) — a law passed in 1970 that requires agencies to identify and reduce the environmental impacts of proposed projects. This process helps protect the environment from threats, but it can also take a long time, stalling essential projects. The reforms will have both positive and negative impacts on public lands like state parks.
- Park and non-motorized recreational trail projects funded by 2024’s Proposition 4 — covering planning, design, site acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance – will receive a full exemption from CEQA.
- Wildfire risk reduction and defensible space projects will be exempt from CEQA review until January 1, 2030.
- The new exemptions do not apply to private housing developments and park facility projects on California State Parks lands. These projects will still be subject to CEQA review.
These changes create both opportunities and challenges. While CEQA exemptions may speed up planning and implementation for certain park-adjacent projects, ongoing protections for state parklands remain critical to preserving sensitive ecosystems and cultural heritage sites. We’ll continue to monitor CEQA reforms and exemption proposals closely to ensure state parks are protected while access and resilience projects can move forward efficiently.
Funding Shifts: Climate and Bond Allocations
Rising costs for key programs like Medi-Cal, increasing economic uncertainty from federal economic policies like increasing tariffs, and the economic impact of last winter’s devastating fires in Los Angeles are all putting pressure on the state’s General Fund. To address this, SB 101 reduces discretionary spending from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) by $1 billion over two years. These reductions may affect climate resilience programs that benefit parks, open space, and natural lands.
However, the Legislature signaled its intent to reduce the Governor’s proposed Proposition 4 bond backfill from $316 million to $175.8 million, though it hasn’t yet specified which allocations will be affected. We are monitoring this closely, especially for it’s impact on future park and conservation funding.
What’s Next?
Later this summer, we expect the Legislature to introduce additional budget trailer bills that will outline allocations for both Proposition 4 and terms for reauthorizing the distribution of funds under the state’s Greenhouse Gass Reduction Fund (GGRF). These bills will determine how billions of dollars in potential funding are distributed to critical programs, including those that support State Parks. California State Parks Foundation will be advocating for smart, equitable investments that expand access, protect natural resources, and build climate resilience throughout the parks system. These decisions have real-world impacts, from maintaining trails to restoring habitats to ensure more Californian’s can experience the benefits of their local state parks. We urge all park supporters to stay engaged as these decisions take shape in the coming months.