Assemblymember Alvarez’s AB 35, a Bipartisan Measure to Accelerate Proposition 4 Investments Across California, Passes First Committee.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Assembly Bill 35, the Proposition 4 Implementation Acceleration Act, authored by Assemblymember Alvarez passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee today with unanimous support. This bill will ensure voters’ support for climate, water and natural resources investments are delivered quickly and efficiently to communities across California. 

“Voters were clear when they passed Proposition 4: they want action,” said Assemblymember Alvarez. “AB 35 ensures that Proposition 4 dollars reach communities faster, whether that’s protecting families from wildfire, improving access to safe drinking water, supporting our agricultural regions or preventing further harm from cross-border pollution in San Diego’s South Bay. Beaches in South Bay have been closed since December 2021 and the ongoing sewage pollution is contaminating the air we breathe. Delays of a year or more are unacceptable when Californians are facing urgent infrastructure challenges right now”

In November 2024, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 4, authorizing $10 billion for wildfire resilience, safe drinking water, drought response, parks, and climate adaptation. AB 35 removes unnecessary administrative delays by exempting Proposition 4 program guidelines from the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), allowing state agencies to deploy funds without months-long regulatory bottlenecks. The bill is sponsored by the County of San Diego.

“In South San Diego, we are currently witnessing the worst environmental and public health crisis in our nation, and our community can’t afford to wait for fixes. This isn’t just a policy debate; it is a daily struggle,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “Children are unable to breathe properly, and families are falling ill while we wait for bureaucratic guidelines to be finalized. This is an urgent need that cannot wait for months of administrative delays. AB 35 will ensure that the funds from Prop 4 is fast-tracked and we can treat this disaster with the immediate, decisive action our residents deserve.”

State agencies have indicated that a full APA rulemaking process can delay grant programs by 12-18 months, postponing projects that directly affect public health, safety and economic stability. Similar APA exemptions were embedded in prior voter-approved bonds, including Proposition 84 and Proposition 68, establishing clear precedent for AB 35. 

“As the impacts of climate change become more acute, California voters passed Prop 4 to improve our resiliency and adapt to climate extremes,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley). “AB 35 will accelerate the state’s ability to fulfill this voter mandate, ensuring that vital projects proceed without delay.” 

Proposition 4 investments will support projects such as drought mitigation, flood protection, watershed improvements, wildfire prevention, habitat restoration, park creation and outdoor access, youth workforce development, coastal resilience, increased grid reliability, and protection from extreme heat.

“My district has experienced some of the most devastating fires in California history. Nearly my entire constituency lives in fire-threatened communities,” said Assemblymember Hadwick (R-Redding). “They can’t wait on bureaucratic delays—they are living in danger right now and need assistance now. Californians voted for Proposition 4, signaling a clear understanding of the importance of preventative action, and they deserve to see those dollars put to work immediately. We need to be proactive and not reactive.”

The APA exemption in AB 35 maintains transparency and accountability requirements while eliminating procedural barriers that will delay projects. AB 35 is co-authored by over a quarter of the entire CA Legislature and supported by a broad statewide coalition of environmental stewards, water agencies, conservation organizations, park and open space districts, agricultural community, climate advocates, and local government partners who are urging the Legislature to accelerate Proposition 4 investments.

"Representing a broad range of communities across California, we strongly support AB 35 because it keeps voter-approved climate investments moving as intended,” said Rachel Norton, Co-President of the Committee for Clean Water, Natural Resources and Parks and Executive Director of the California State Parks Foundation. “Without this bill, funding for critical programs could be stalled for up to a year, putting essential community and climate projects at risk when they are needed more than ever. AB 35 is a straightforward fix that helps ensure funding reaches communities on time and allows agencies to keep delivering the benefits Californians voted for." 

AB 35 will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill includes an urgency clause so it can take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature.

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The 80th Assembly District includes the communities of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, Lincoln Acres, Bonita, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro, along with the cities of Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach.