Victory! AB 2734 Expands Coastal Access in California!

For years, Californians have spent millions on the Whale Tail license plate because they wanted to support coastal access and education – but most of that money was going elsewhere.

AB 2734 fixes that — by making sure Whale Tail plate revenue funds the coastal programs it was created to support.

Prior to this legislation, only about 25% of Whale Tail plate revenue was set aside for coastal access and education programs while the rest flowed into a general fund. AB 2734 changes that!

Starting January 1, 2027, half of all plate revenue will go to the California Coastal Commission for the Whale Tail Grants Program, Adopt-A-Beach, Coastal Cleanup Day, and coastal public education. The other half will go directly to the State Coastal Conservancy's Explore the Coast grants to fund programs that get people, especially those in underserved communities, to the shore.

Since the plate launched, more than 4.6 million people have participated in Whale Tail-funded activities. This bill means more of that work gets funded.

California's coast is a public resource. The people who buy this plate believe in protecting it. AB 2734 makes sure their money delivers on that promise.

Sponsored by Surfrider's friends at TreePeople, Salted Roots, and Outdoor Outreach.