Keep Oil off of California's Shores: YES on AB 1448!

AB1448

Coastal resources: C...

Less

email advocacy

Keep Oil off of California's Shores: YES on AB 1448!

Email Subject:

Dear [Your Elected Official],

As your constituent, I urge you to vote "yes" on Assembly Bill 1448, critical legislation that will protect our beaches, marine species, and coastal economy from the Trump administration’s plan to expand offshore oil drilling in federal waters.
The threat is urgent. The administration is proposing offshore lease sales off California's coast between 2027 and 2031. These new leases — the first in more than 40 years — would rely on our state's aging offshore infrastructure, which could lead to catastrophic oil spills.
California legislators can deter the expansion of drilling off our coast by supporting AB 1448. The bill would prohibit existing infrastructure in state waters from being used to support oil from any new federal leases issued after Jan. 1, 2026.
Our economy depends on a healthy ocean. California's marine economy supports more than 500,000 jobs and generates $51 billion in GDP. Coastal tourism and recreation account for 67% of that employment — far outpacing the offshore oil industry, which represents just 1% of coastal employment. One major spill would devastate the industries that sustain our communities.
Wildlife like sea otters, endangered black abalone, and humpback whales also depend on healthy marine ecosystems, and they're still recovering from previous oil spills. The 2021 Huntington Beach, 2015 Refugio Beach, and 1969 Santa Barbara spills released nearly 4.35 million gallons of crude oil that closed fisheries, and the resulting cleanups cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
We can't afford another spill, but many of the 27 platforms and pipelines off California are between 40 and 60 years old — well beyond their intended lifespan. The 2015 Refugio disaster was caused by a 28-year-old corroded pipeline.
Polling shows that 65% of California residents oppose more drilling off our coast. More than 80 California municipalities (including nearly every coastal county) have adopted positions against offshore drilling expansion. California also led the United States in transitioning to clean energy while building the world's fourth-largest economy. We stopped issuing new offshore drilling leases in state waters after the 1969 oil spill and made that policy permanent in 1994.
AB 1448 reflects the will of Californians and is the next logical step in protecting our coast from additional oil spill disasters. Please vote "yes" on this bill. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

Send me occasional emails about this issue

Send a copy of this email to me

Summary

Ask your legislator to vote YES on AB 1448 today! Protect California’s coast against new offshore drilling. California's coastline faces a serious threat. In late 2025, the Trump administration proposed new federal leases for offshore oil and gas drilling along the entire length of California's coast — reversing decades of protections put in place after the catastrophic 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. While California law already prohibits the State Lands Commission from approving new oil and gas infrastructure to support federal leases issued after January 1, 2018, a dangerous loophole remains: oil companies could use existing aging infrastructure — like the heavily corroded Sable pipeline responsible for the 2015 Refugio oil spill — to support new federal offshore drilling. AB 1448 (Hart) closes that loophole. The bill would: Prohibit the use of existing infrastructure to support new federal offshore oil and gas development Require the State Lands Commission to consider additional environmental and safety factors before renewing or transferring leases Tighten California's ban on offshore oil drilling in state waters Our coast, our fishing communities, our tourism economy, and our marine habitats cannot afford another catastrophic spill. Tell your legislators to support AB 1448 and protect California's coast!

Who will receive your email?

Your State Senator and State Representative(s)