Existing law designates all parks, public campgrounds, monument sites, landmark sites, and sites of historical interest established or acquired by the state, or that are under its control, as the state park system, except as specified. Under existing law, the Department of Parks and Recreation controls the state park system, which is made up of units.

This bill would establish the California State Park Stewardship Act of 2026. The bill would require the department to identify and administer best practices for conducting projects and programs addressing climate change through the stewardship and management of state park lands and promoting climate resilience, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting biodiversity by integrating climate considerations into all aspects of park planning, development, and operations. The bill would establish the Wildfire Safety and Climate Stewardship Fund, to be administered by the department, to, among other things, support stewardship of state park lands and ensure improved carbon uptake and storage in units of the state park system, and would authorize the department to enter into an agreement with specified entities to accept funding for these purposes, as provided.