California campsite reservation bill passes State Assembly

SAN DIEGO — A bill that would make it easier for campers at California state parks to snag a campsite reservation has passed the State Assembly with nearly unanimous support.

AB 618, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-San Ramon), proposes amendments to state campsite reservation polices that aim to open up spaces to meet demand by deterring late cancellations and no-shows with added penalties.

The bill also directs the California State Parks department to implement a lottery system for a handful of the most coveted campsites, as well as provide a discount to low-income park visitors through the Golden Bear pass.

“All Californians should have equal opportunities and access to reserve a campsite within our public parks,” Bauer-Kahan wrote in a report on the bill.

California has the most state park land in the country with 279 individual parks, with nearly 7 million visitors staying in one of the state’s 15,000 campsites.

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