CAMTB Mid-Summer Legislative Update

Advocacy

July 24, 2025

Check out the latest from Sacramento and D.C.

We’re now halfway through the legislative season, and our state and Federal lawmakers are back home in their districts for their summer breaks. See below for the latest on all things cycling, trails, and public lands in our 2025 Mid-Summer Legislative Update.

State Legislative Agenda Expands As The Session Advances

SCR 94 (Blakespear) California Mountain Biking And Trail Stewardship Month Recognized by the Senate and Assembly

This year, CAMTB sponsored SCR-94 (Blakespear) to raise awareness in the state legislature regarding the significance of cycling, trails, and public lands here in California. The resolution was adopted by both Houses, receiving unanimous support. Thank you to the bill’s primary author, Senator Catherine Blakespear, as well as the co-authors, Senator Brian Jones, Senator Jesse Arreguin, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, and Assemblymember Laurie Davies.

To celebrate CAMTB Month, we hosted a team of delegates (pictured above) at the State Capitol to celebrate the passing of SCR 94 in the California Senate, as well as a meet & greet with two of the resolution authors, Sen Blakespear and Senator Jones, in San Diego County.

Sen. Jones (l) and Sen Blakespear (lc), together with CAMTB Teen Ambassador Diem Schneider (rc) and CAMTB Board President Steve Messer (r), for a victory lap in San Diego County.

CA Trails Conservancy Program meets its demise in the Assembly

SB 287 (Arrequín), which was intended to increase funding and coordination of trail development statewide, failed to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee. Based on the Senate Appropriations analysis, the bill may have been held up due to budget constraints and/or the implications it may have had on the CNRA’s rollout of Prop 4 funding.

CA State Budget

In January, the Governor’s office released a draft budget predicting a $12 billion deficit. This budget proposed significant backfills, to be covered by Prop 4/Climate Bond funding, and/or direct cuts to natural resource funding. Despite a coordinated campaign urging lawmakers to oppose these $273 million in backfills and restore general funds, very little funding was restored in the approved budget. The positive outcome is that the $10 billion from Prop 4 is still available to maintain progress, preventing natural resource agency partners, like CA State Parks, from facing even greater financial difficulties.

CEQA Exemptions for Trails?

In a surprising, last-minute development, Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to withhold approval of the state budget unless the legislature agreed to his proposed California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reforms. This led to the introduction of SB 131, a budget trailer bill.

Among its provisions, SB 131 proposes an exemption from CEQA requirements for certain projects related to public parks and nonmotorized recreational trails, provided they are funded by Proposition 4. This exemption would cover all activities and approvals necessary for the planning, design, site acquisition, construction, operation, or maintenance of these facilities. However, the exemption is conditional on Proposition 4 funding, either in whole or in part. Importantly, these exemptions do not override existing environmental protections; projects located on “natural and protected lands” or in environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands, remain ineligible.

Additionally, AB 1139 (Rogers) seeks to amend CEQA by expanding an existing exemption. Specifically, it aims to exempt changes in use that allow public access for nonmotorized recreation on pre-existing roads, trails, and pathways leading to areas acquired for open space or park purposes by a “county park agency.” This bill, currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee (as of July 2025), is sponsored by Sonoma County, with the goal of streamlining projects that enhance public access. As of July 27, 2025, this version of AB 1139 is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee. A hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2025, with a recommendation to be placed on the Consent Calendar.

eBikes!

eBikes /eMotos continue to be lightning rod issues in both houses. SB-586 (Jones) has cleared the Senate and is under review by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The legislation aims to officially define eMotos as off-highway vehicles, requiring them to follow OHV rules, including displaying identification plates. This reclassification seeks to provide regulatory clarity and enhance safety by directing eMotos to designated motorized routes, reducing conflicts with other trail users.

Other ebike bills we’re watching:

AB 545 (Davies): Prohibits selling applications that modify e-bike speed.
AB 875 (Muratsuchi): Clarifies police can confiscate illegal e-motorcycles sold as e-bikes.
AB 544 (Davies): Requires e-bikes to have a red rear reflector or flashing light at all times. Minors can divert a helmet fine by taking an online e-bike safety class and showing proof of a helmet.
AB 965 (Dixon): Prohibits selling new or used Class 3 e-bikes to anyone under 16. Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assist only, top out at 28 mph, and have more restrictions than Class 1 and 2 (20 mph top speed). Riders under 16 cannot operate Class 3 e-bikes, and all Class 3 riders must wear helmets.

Nonprofit Grant Administration

This year, we reported on two bills designed to streamline the grants process for nonprofit organizations. AB 1039 (Hart) would mandate advance payments to nonprofit grant recipients, addressing their cash flow challenges. This bill has progressed to the Senate Appropriations Committee and is anticipated to be on the August 18 consent calendar. Unfortunately, AB 880 (Bennett), which aimed to expedite payments and allow for the inclusion of grantees’ indirect costs (if part of the grant application), has been withdrawn by its author.

State Resolutions Opposing Federal Workforce Cuts

In light of federal land manager workforce reductions in California, state lawmakers have commendably advocated on their behalf. AJR 10 (Rogers), chaptered on July 8, unanimously passed both the Senate and Assembly. This demonstrates California’s strong support for its national forests by calling on the President and the California Congressional delegation to oppose budget cuts to the United States Forest Service.

Similarly, AJR 9 (Wallis) urges the President and the United States Congress to immediately restore full and consistent funding and staffing for the National Park Service. It has passed the Assembly unanimously and is awaiting a final vote in the Senate.

Federal Lands Are At A Crossroads – And CAMTB Is Leaning In

To say the last few months have been a roller-coaster ride in the federal trail advocacy realm is an understatement. We’ve seen dramatic policy shifts, threats to federal public lands, workforce reductions, changing rules, general confusion and low morale among federal agency staff. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy at the Federal level:

Defending Public Lands

Throughout it all, CAMTB has ensured that mountain bikers’ voices are heard by legislators and decision makers. With our partners at IMBA and Outdoor Alliance, over 1 million letters were sent opposing the public lands selloff— over 10% from California. Our elected officials listened, and the selloff provision was pulled from the reconciliation package. This was a major win for public lands among many new and evolving challenges.

The “Make America Beautiful Again” Commission

The White House unveiled a new commission intended to expand recreation access and address maintenance backlogs on federal lands. We find it puzzling that this comes as the federal workforce—essential to those efforts—is being cut. Nonetheless, CAMTB will engage to ensure singletrack trails remain a priority.

Agency Workforce Reductions

BLM headquarters staff has been significantly reduced, including the loss of a dedicated trails coordinator, and NPS’s partnership office is also heavily impacted. USFS Region 5 staff—our key partners in California—have moved on or been reassigned. There’s an effort to consolidate all federal firefighting agencies under the DOI, that we’re also paying attention to. We’re tracking these changes to make sure we and our member organizations can continue to build and maintain trails.

Budget Battles in Congress

As the FY26 budget is negotiated (late July 2025), the House has proposed maintaining funding for the NPS National Trails System and Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Programs, increasing Forest Service funding, and slightly reducing BLM program budgets—counter to deeper cuts proposed by the President. These are welcomed changes from the Whitehouse proposal that we hope make it to the final appropriations bill. The additional funds don’t, however, bring back the workforce responsible for implementing the programs funded by the budget.

Roadless Rule

The Secretary of Agriculture rescinded the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, making it easier to build roads for mandated increases in logging on BLM and USFS lands. This threatens many iconic, backcountry mountain bike trails in California with road construction, and logging activities. It may also reduce the reduce the red tape for approving new trails.

NEPA Rollbacks

Alongside the Council on Environmental Quality’s rollback of NEPA regulations, regulatory burdens for trail projects are reduced—a bright spot for access. But these changes also ease approval of extractive projects, with limited opportunities for public input, which deeply concerns us.

The EXPLORE and BOLT Acts

In June, Secretary Burgum ordered the BLM and NPS to implement the EXPLORE Act, passed last year with bipartisan support. The Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act was included, and CAMTB has been an active participant in the BOLT coalition to advocate for California’s long-distance routes. Nominations are now being accepted.

Restoring Public Land Funding

We’re closely monitoring and advocating for the America the Beautiful Act (S.1547) and the RTP Full Funding Act (S. 811), both of which would extend and boost critical infrastructure maintenance and trail funds. Both have strong bipartisan support, giving us hope for passage.

U.S. Forest Service Reorganization

The Secretary of Agriculture just announced a USDA reorganization eliminating the nine Forest Service regional offices (including Region 5, which covered CA and Hawaii) and consolidating USDA programs into new “hubs” outside of DC. For California mountain bikers, it appears our nearest hub will be in Utah. We are still evaluating the full implications and will work to identify the right agency staffers to help us improve recreation in our National Forests. More to follow.

We’re staying on top of these developments and working with our partners to anticipate and prepare for the impacts of these changes, and push back against those that hurt us. Through coalition letters, D.C. fly-ins, and district meetings with elected reps, CAMTB is making sure California mountain bikers stay at the table. Your calls and emails amplify our work—sign up for our action alerts and help defend the places we love to ride.