SB 304: Public lands: City of Oakland: Port of Oakland: uses of after-acquired lands.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Under existing law, known as the public trust doctrine, the state has title as trustee to all tidelands and navigable lakes and streams and is charged with preserving these waterways for navigation, commerce, and fishing, as well as for scientific study, recreation, and as an open space and habitat for birds and marine life. Existing law establishes the State Lands Commission in the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law provides that the state’s power and right to control, regulate, and use its tidelands and submerged lands when acting within the terms of the public trust is absolute. Existing law provides that tidelands and submerged lands granted by the Legislature to local entities remain subject to the public trust, and remain subject to the oversight authority of the state by and through the commission. Existing law provides that granted public trust lands remain subject to the supervision of the state and the state retains its duty to protect the public interest in granted public trust lands.

Under existing law, the commission’s power to lease and grant is conferred upon the local trustee of the granted public trust lands. Existing law grants the City of Oakland sovereign tide and submerged lands located within its boundaries.

This bill would lift, until February 1, 2066, the use restrictions imposed by the granting statutes and the public trust doctrine for after-acquired lands, as defined, in Jack London Square and would authorize the Port of Oakland to lease the after-acquired lands for any purpose subject to specified conditions. The bill would provide that on February 2, 2066, the use restrictions imposed by the granting statutes and the public trust doctrine again apply to after-acquired lands. The bill would require, on or before January 15, 2027, and every year thereafter until February 2, 2066, the Port of Oakland to provide the commission with a narrative statement, as specified. The bill would, until February 1, 2066, hold the terms of a specified stipulated judgment in abeyance for after-acquired lands subject to the act, as provided. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on the City of Oakland, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires workers employed on public works to be paid not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages, determined by the Director of Industrial Relations, for work of a similar character in the locality that the public work is performed, as prescribed, unless an exception applies, and imposes misdemeanor penalties for a willful violation of this requirement.

The bill would apply the above-described prevailing wage standards to privately funded tenant improvements on after-acquired land leased by the Port of Oakland if certain requirements are met. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Port of Oakland.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 10, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 578, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 10, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 17, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. September 10, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 1. Page 2803.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 9, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 9, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3070.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 5, 2025Ordered to third reading.
8. September 5, 2025Read third time and amended.
9. September 5, 2025Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
10. August 21, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 20, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
12. July 15, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.