[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6476614,"mediaKeyId","5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465","parentId",5718220,"title","Senate approves bill allowing Coastal Commission to consider 'blue carbon' mitigation; debate centers on cost and regulatory authority","audioSeconds",218,"startMs",3755000,"endMs",3973000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465&start=3755&end=3973","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465/thumbnail_3755000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476614/California/Senate-approves-bill-allowing-Coastal-Commission-to-consider-blue-carbon-mitigation-debate-centers-on-cost-and-regulatory-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476614-fab0a95c4e3e0a58623fa7ae66feb406/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456877&Signature=apzZndM7d0nnhlHdNarVB6zeLju9AbEMjainn3bG6pw6RLxSbN64KIT07Vu5wgENCPRNXxeLyTSTNJ2wp7xDK~nnEJcue6V5T4VGWBEd5PTywg7-9auzKqYkjvGGZN0FUKZutVsd7MqnQVrESN5T-5HCSSLwuib5f3~TDUh3pq8XOxivzxSwjrT2xIyrmOvwCItLTqQ9ZxYI4486tON0EnTTjXF~JVMo19Ly5sVK0z-ruTjpBgbJU3MMapHpYFGxTyc1GabtZPAKCw9SM2hDVQl-~cn~zh7okXQC2RCyusQBtJVwnYZn23KWLUvA1VnjoOMIipY7Or29OP0oCA-m3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate","date","2025-09-04T00:00:00Z","article","The California Senate on Friday approved AB 3 99, a bill that would allow the California Coastal Commission to authorize “blue carbon” demonstration projects and include those projects among mitigation options when issuing coastal development permits.

Supporters said the bill is permissive and limited to projects affecting coastal wetlands or marine habitat. Senator Ben Padilla, presenting the bill on behalf of Assemblymember David Berner, said research shows seagrasses and salt marshes can capture and store carbon at higher rates than many terrestrial systems and that the bill adds another mitigation tool for affected coastal projects. “The language in the bill before us is permissive,” Padilla said, “and only applies to projects that impact coastal wetlands or marine habitat, entirely consistent with the goals of the Coastal Act.”

Opposition focused on cost, timing and expanding regulatory authority. Senator Janet Choi rose in opposition, arguing the measure was “costly and poorly designed” and that the Coastal Commission—“made up of unelected bureaucrats,” in her words—should not receive expanded authority that could slow recovery and rebuilding in coastal communities. “We should pursue carbon initiatives through voluntary, incentive-based programs rather than expanding regulatory mandates,” Choi said.

Padilla and other supporters emphasized that AB 3 99 does not mandate blue carbon projects but only allows the Coastal Commission to add them to a suite of potential mitigations for permits affecting coastal wetlands or marine habitat. The bill’s author said any such mitigation would be considered alongside existing factors under the Coastal Act and used where appropriate.

The Senate recorded a roll call and the measure passed. The bill will return to the Assembly for concurrence on amendments taken in the Senate as required by the legislative process.

The debate highlighted the core policy trade-offs: supporters framed the bill as a narrow, science-informed expansion of mitigation tools that could help preserve habitats and sequester carbon; opponents warned of new regulatory burdens and costs for coastal projects already facing post-disaster recovery pressures.

AB 3 99 does not create a mandate to use blue carbon projects statewide; rather it adds those projects to the Commission’s discretionary toolbox for coastal development mitigation when the Commission determines such measures are appropriate and consistent with the Coastal Act.

A final vote tally was recorded on the Senate floor roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session","oneSentenceSummary","The California Senate on Friday approved AB 3 99, allowing the Coastal Commission to authorize and consider blue carbon demonstration projects—such as seagrass or salt marsh restoration—as potential mitigation when approving coastal development permits.","taxTitle","California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California","taxId",77650,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6476606,"Senate floor roundup: dozens of bills and gubernatorial appointments approved in Friday session",0,6360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465&start=6360&end=6360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465/thumbnail_6360000.jpg","/articles/6476606/California/Senate-floor-roundup-dozens-of-bills-and-gubernatorial-appointments-approved-in-Friday-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476606-f142de0f46545f4469a0e5db501c9549/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456877&Signature=ZlCM6rfesRKOPddqPPE-Alay9bbgJnom48oCTLkI69lC56q8fn5jAoFz2H1ypWSSgUXae~fuHBHZ0-lW4RtXoX9qwWjU0um2n39giRw9DezXJTUuMeHUkTlNZzP9OQ6jR-9CQiC6NQwYgTTUh19t5GXI~crxyOPeTXGW7vtHLV1VBj8ebQyVpxJnu4YiGfvZejVG4zlyW31YJGK-OfHtjMAJS6Hl3-F9AcTn8Blc15YHNG81PQDS0fcptkExuUsPuiPXvZA5LJ8cYPLjnkAQxbnE17kaDkcCFl9Fjad7RuZRGZFOwlnoSqhgWcYgrlhczxb0a65kRYBSz3U9epwHOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California State Senate on Friday moved through a heavy floor calendar, approving a broad set of bills spanning health care, housing, labor, education and environmental policy, and confirming several governor appointments.

Key categories of action

- Appointments: The Senate confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments, including reappointments to the State Athletic Commission and regional water boards. Several confirmations were approved following roll calls.

- Health care and consumer protections: The Senate passed measures expanding reporting and transparency for health care transactions, and a bill (AB 395-series items on the calendar) that broadened the Office of Health Care Affordability’s review of private equity and management service organizations’ transactions.

- Housing and disaster response: The Senate approved bills to streamline recovery after disasters and to support housing approvals and transparency in permitting for housing development.

- Labor and employment: Lawmakers approved measures addressing worker protections including a bill to provide return-to-work protections for employees detained by immigration authorities and measures related to contractor licensing and wage-theft enforcement.

- Education and workforce: Bills were approved to expand pathways for bilingual teachers and to ease licensing and placement barriers in specific sectors.

- Small business relief and local regulation: The Senate extended or clarified temporary measures that supported outdoor dining and streamlined local rules for restaurants and small businesses.

Votes at a glance (selected passed measures from today’s session)

- Doug Hendrickson — Confirmation to State Athletic Commission (reappointment): confirmed by roll call.
- David Nahai — Reappointment to Los Angeles Region Water Quality Control Board: confirmed by roll call.
- Darnell Grisby — Reappointment to California Transportation Commission: confirmed by roll call.
- AB 94 (recall reappointment prohibition): passed on roll call.
- AB 1299 (parking fine waivers for people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship — local flexibility): passed on roll call.
- AB 683 (Binational Teacher Expansion Act / AB 833 on the calendar): passed to allow exchanges and temporary teaching by qualified teachers from Mexico; passed on roll call.
- AB 1002 (contractor license suspension/revocation authority for repeat wage-theft cases): passed on roll call.
- AB 251 (elder-abuse evidence standard in certain cases involving willful destruction of evidence): passed on roll call.
- AB 681 (increase in California Dream Loan cap for undocumented graduate students): passed on roll call.
- AB 592 (extension of outdoor dining rules until 2029 for restaurants): passed on roll call.
- SB 276, SB 230, and numerous other Senate bills on concurrence and third reading were approved by recorded roll calls as listed on the floor.

Several bills were moved to the inactive file, and a number of consent‑calendar items were adopted en bloc after the floor noted no objections. The Majority Leader moved a series of cross‑desk amendments to be adopted and published, and leadership used unanimous‑roll call procedures on many items.

The full Senate calendar for the day included dozens of items (read at the desk early in the session); staff and floor leadership noted the chamber disposed of roughly 69 bills during the session and 182 for the week. The Senate recessed at the end of the session and scheduled its next floor session for Monday, September 8 at 2 p.m.

Because the session approved many separate bills and appointments by roll call, reporters covering specific policy areas should consult the Senate’s official clerk roll-call records for full vote tallies and the final enrolled versions of each bill for precise amended language.","The California Senate cleared a large group of bills and several gubernatorial appointments during a long floor session. Many measures were passed by roll call with unanimous or near‑unanimous margins; several bills were noted for their policy focus on health care affordability, housing, labor protections and small‑business relief.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6476611,"Senate backs interim Highway 37 project with incidental-take authorization; bill framed as necessary resilience step",162,4908000,5070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465&start=4908&end=5070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5718220-4b808ed9f5f2df47f1b76cf90a1ca465/thumbnail_4908000.jpg","/articles/6476611/California/Senate-backs-interim-Highway-37-project-with-incidental-take-authorization-bill-framed-as-necessary-resilience-step","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476611-a4a871622d8aee712475a24cf17808f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456877&Signature=P6HDDpVH3FGnIxj3xcq-hFqJe1Ay2TPR587Vi891aTe6atW561AETqrx62M44qPudvNMAFie80Mz0u6Phj7m~s9H4rpl7mNAWx3q9V7a4oFVVCsNbO2u~d8qosvY3XAPaStOuqBWF4b4tGBbj8rJL~p9yOci8yYOFontns61aIfhY~LoNLKiQIF2mGuORm3jjdsYBCIb7pa1ju0aEm82IxQ9~TejwPj3tBMfB7Fut7NcA6uoLOSdkSZ6qzSofi3kncGM~ixtbvA0G8S5k1hDEB0wsstLGXozjmPTZOX193NaAlTX9UKv1R7yyGEUSYrBiSvWj1sVZFElTa6bNlmFiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate approved SB 697, authorizing an incidental-take permit and related conservation measures to allow an interim resilience and restoration project along State Highway 37, the low-lying route that crosses marshes north of San Pablo Bay.

Senator Bill Wilson, presenting the measure, said the corridor is at acute risk from sea-level rise and that without action portions of Highway 37 could be under water within decades. Wilson described the interim proposal—estimated at roughly $500 million—to protect and restore marsh and bay habitat while enabling immediate safety and flood-resilience upgrades. He said the legislation would require mitigation and restoration comparable to habitat conservation plans and would not remove protections for listed species.

Wilson acknowledged controversy in the region and said the interim project is a step toward an eventual elevated causeway—an $11 billion project that is not immediately fundable. “This is an essential part of that,” Wilson said, arguing the interim project helps keep the highway operable for essential workers and regional commerce.

Supporters said the bill balances immediate resilience needs with commitments to habitat mitigation and restoration. The author emphasized that an incidental take permit would be conditioned on mitigation plans and restoration actions that match the protections of formal habitat conservation plans or natural-community conservation plans.

Debate on the floor reflected differing priorities. Supporters stressed the need to preserve a functioning transportation corridor now; some members noted a long-term preference for an elevated causeway or additional housing and transit solutions but said those projects will take many years to deliver. The Senate recorded a roll call and approved the measure.

SB 697 moves on in the legislative process; the bill includes language to ensure mitigation, mitigation planning and restoration obligations would be executed alongside construction of the interim project.","Senators approved SB 697, authorizing incidental take for certain species to enable an interim half-billion-dollar project on Highway 37 and related habitat restoration. Supporters described the measure as a necessary step while planning a longer-term elevated causeway; opponents urged alternatives and emphasized transit and housing solutions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves bill allowing Coastal Commission to consider 'blue carbon' mitigation; debate centers on cost and regulatory authority

Senate floor roundup: dozens of bills and gubernatorial appointments approved in Friday session

Senate backs interim Highway 37 project with incidental-take authorization; bill framed as necessary resilience step