On August 3rd, as part of Audubon California’s annual legislative advocacy day, local Audubon members from all over the state met with 45 state legislative offices to advocate for birds and communities. Here in Yolo County several of us with Yolo Audubon Society met via Zoom with our local representative, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and with Senator Bill Dodd’s Legislative Director, Les Spahn. Major themes discussed included expanding access to nature for all Californians, and increasing state budget funding for nature-based climate change solutions. Key bills which we urged the legislators to support include:
- AB 30 (Karla) which establishes a state policy for every Californian to have access to nature and outdoor activities, and requires state agencies to implement the policy through programs and grants;
- AB 2278 (Karla) which requires the CA Natural Resources Agency to report to the Legislature on progress in meeting the state’s goal of conserving 30% of California’s lands and waters for nature by 2030 (known as the 30 x 30 goal);
- AB 2382 (Lee) which requires state owned and operated buildings to install light fixtures which reduce unnecessary light pollution, which can negatively impact birds that migrate at night;
- SB 260 (Wiener) which would enact the climate corporate accountability act and require large corporations with business in excess of $1 billion to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the CA Air Resources Board; and
- SB 977 (Laird) which would create the Conservation Ranching Incentive Program to help protect grassland birds and sequester carbon.
All of these bills, with the exception of SB 977, passed their last committee hurdles after our meetings and should be on their way to the Governor’s desk by the time you read this report. SB 977, unfortunately, was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. However, Audubon is actively working on alternative strategies to promote this program which would help advance the conservation goals we are also engaged in here locally at Bobcat Ranch.
YAS wants especially to thank Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry and Senator Dodd’s office for taking the time to meet with us and discuss these important issues.