What AB 1448 does
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, September 1, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Hart introduced AB 1448 on . The text was amended 0 times, and heard in 7 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, June 4, 2025: 42 ayes, 26 noes.
- Senate Floor, August 26, 2026: 29 ayes, 10 noes.
- Assembly Floor, August 27, 2026: 46 ayes, 18 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Natural Resources, April 28, 2025: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 10-4.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 23, 2025: Do pass., 11-3.
- Senate Natural Resources and Water, July 8, 2025: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization], 4-3.
- Senate Appropriations, August 18, 2025: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 29, 2025: Do pass as amended, 5-2.
- Senate Natural Resources and Water, June 9, 2026: Pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10, that the measure be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5, 5-2.
Who supports and opposes AB 1448
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 5, 2026 lists 156 organizations in support and 16 in opposition. When Assembly Natural Resources first listed positions on April 25, 2025, the count was 48 in support and 3 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of August 5, 2026 it was 156 to 16.
In support: Oceana (sponsor); Environmental Defense Center (sponsor); Center for Biological Diversity (sponsor); 7th Generation Advisors; 350 Bay Area Action; 350 Hawaii; 350 Humboldt; 350 Sacramento; and 148 more.
Opposed: Central Valley Business Federation; IEEP; Kern Citizens of Energy; Kern County Economic Development Corporation; Kern County Taxpayers Association; Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce; Los Angeles County Business Federation; Sable Offshore Corporation; and 8 more.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
Our read
Analysis by Capitol Axis, drawn from the committee analyses and vote record for AB 1448.
The support list roughly doubled between Assembly Natural Resources and Senate Floor Analyses, 48 to 156.
Central Valley Business Federation, Kern Citizens of Energy and Kern County Economic Development Corporation appear on the opposed list, which runs to 16 organizations, and chambers of commerce account for much of it.
This is an Oceana bill. Amendments were negotiated with them, not around them.
What happens next
It reached the Governor's desk on September 4, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for data center organizations
Two decisions follow from a bill at this stage. The first is whether to weigh in with the Governor's office before the thirty-day window closes. The second is how to prepare for implementation if it becomes law: which agency writes the rules, when the comment period opens, and which obligations begin January 1.
The data centers group at Capitol Axis handles that for data center clients.
Questions about AB 1448
What does AB 1448 do?
AB 1448 concerns coastal resources: california coastal sanctuary: tidelands and submerged lands: oil and gas development. See the Legislative Counsel's Digest on leginfo for the full summary.
Has AB 1448 passed the California Legislature?
It reached the Governor's desk on September 4, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
Who supports and opposes AB 1448?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 5, 2026 lists 156 organizations in support and 16 in opposition. Supporters include Oceana (sponsor); Environmental Defense Center (sponsor); Center for Biological Diversity (sponsor). Opponents include Central Valley Business Federation; IEEP; Kern Citizens of Energy.
What happens next with AB 1448?
The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until then, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect.