Shipyard

The Solano County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose draft state legislation, tentatively called the Solano Maritime and Manufacturing Act, that would streamline zoning and environmental review for shipbuilding projects in Collinsville. Supervisors said they received the draft only a day before Tuesday's meeting and objected to being rushed ahead of Friday's bill-introduction deadline for the current legislative session. The board instead directed staff to continue discussions, hoping to push any proposal to the next session in December 2026.

The legislation, backed in comments by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson and State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, is tied to renewed interest in a Collinsville shipyard after California Forever's plans lost a bid to Texas-bound defense firm Saronic. Supporters argue it would let the county compete for federal shipbuilding investment without authorizing California Forever's broader planned city. Critics, including many residents at the hearing, worry it could bypass normal zoning and environmental safeguards. No formal bill author has been named, and it remains unclear whether the board's opposition will affect the state's timeline.