CA AB399

Authorizes the California Coastal Commission to establish blue carbon demonstration projects that restore coastal wetlands, seagrasses, and marine habitats to measure their carbon sequestration potential

Allows the Commission to require nonresidential development projects that impact coastal wetland, subtidal, intertidal, or marine habitats to build or contribute to blue carbon demonstration projects as mitigation

Defines blue carbon demonstration projects as restoration efforts limited to historically appropriate locations using diverse native species to restore habitats to their historical state

Requires the Commission to consult with multiple state and federal agencies, including the State Air Resources Board, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and NOAA, in developing the program

Mandates that each demonstration project be designed with monitoring and data collection to evaluate carbon uptake, sequestration permanence, with results presented at public hearings; provisions only become operative upon legislative appropriation