Governor Newsom recently signed SB 272, which requires local governments to create sea-level rise plans based on the best available science, conduct vulnerability assessments — including for at-risk communities — determine adaptation strategies and sketch out a list of recommended projects with timelines.The governor vetoed a similar bill last fall, noting budget constraints. Laird said his team worked with Newsom’s office to ensure there are dollars in the budget for local planning on sea-level rise. California’s final budget included $1.1 billion in investments for coastal resilience programs over multiple years.“The storms that we just had [last winter] changed the equation for people who didn’t even realize they had some of the coming impacts,” he said.Local governments have until January 2034 to develop sea-level rise plans.“Everybody now sees that deadline ten years from now and recognizes that this is real,” said Larry Goldzband, Executive Director of the Bay Conservation Development Commission (the analog to the Coastal Commission in the San Francisco Bay Area). “There’s going to be huge amounts of social and economic dislocation due to flooding if we don’t adapt.”Read more about California Mandates Coastal Cities Plan for Future Sea-Level Rise
