README

This repository contains a curated dataset of U.S. state-level 30×30 policy implementation and progress.
Policy records were collected, reviewed, and standardized by the author from publicly available primary sources, then compiled into a single, harmonized dataset.

State-level policy information is presented alongside U.S. Census state boundaries and visualized as maps to support comparison across states and policy mechanisms.

State-Level 30×30 Policy Implementation

Implementation Key

• Executive Order: A formal, binding directive issued by a governor that establishes policy and directs agency action.
• Executive Commitment: A public commitment or policy declaration by a governor or senior executive official supporting 30×30 goals, without the legal force of an executive order.
• Statute: A law enacted by the state legislature and signed into law, providing statutory authority for implementation.
• Statute (Other): A statute that advances 30×30–related objectives without explicitly committing to 30×30.
• Legislative Resolution: A non-binding legislative action expressing intent or support, without enforceable requirements.
• Proposed Bill(s) — Legislation introduced but not enacted, indicating intent without legal effect.

---

State-Level 30×30 Policy Progress

Progress Key:

• Achieved: Stated 30×30 goal met or informally completed.
• Active: Implementation underway with regular (e.g., annual) public progress reporting.
• Dormant: Formal commitment or resolution exists, but no recent public progress reporting is available.
• Failed legislation: Proposed legislation did not pass, preventing formal implementation.
• Halted: Implementation initiated but subsequently paused or discontinued.

Sources

California

• State of California. (2020, October 7). Executive Order N‑82‑20. https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/10.07.2020-EO-N-82-20-.pdf
• California Legislature. (2023). Senate Bill 337 (Chapter 392, Statutes of 2023): Environmental protection: lands and coastal waters conservation goal. Approved October 7, 2023. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB337
• California Natural Resources Agency. (2025). Pathways to 30×30 Annual Progress Report 2025. https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/2025-30x30-Pathways-Progress-Report.pdf

Hawai'i

• Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. (2020, December). Holomua: Marine 30×30 — Roadmap to effective management of near-shore waters. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/files/2020/12/HolomuaMarine30x30_Roadmap_final.pdf
• Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. (2024, July). Holomua Marine Initiative: A guide to navigating nearshore resource management.https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/holomua/files/2024/07/Holomua-Guide-Final-July2024.pdf

Illinois

• State of Illinois. (2021, August 27). Public Act 102‑0618: Illinois Thirty‑by‑Thirty Conservation Task Force Act. https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/publicacts/view/102-0618
• Illinois General Assembly. (2024). Senate Resolution 632 – Establishing a 30 × 30 Coordinating Council [Resolution]. https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=632&GAID=17&DocTypeID=SR&LegId=151047&SessionID=112&GA=103
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). 30 by 30 Conservation Task Force. State of Illinois. Retrieved January 30, 2026. https://dnr.illinois.gov/programs/30by30.html

Nevada

• Nevada Legislature. (2021). Assembly Joint Resolution No. 3 (81st Leg., 2021). https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/7487/Overview

Maine

• State of Maine. (2020, December 1). Maine Won’t Wait: A Four‑Year Plan for Climate Action. https://www.maine.gov/future/sites/maine.gov.future/files/inline-files/MaineWontWait_December2020.pdf
• Maine Climate Council. (2025, December). 2025 Progress Report on Maine Won’t Wait. State of Maine. https://www.maine.gov/future/sites/maine.gov.future/files/2025-12/MWW_2025_DIGITAL-2.pdf

Massachusetts

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (2023, September 21). Executive Order No. 618: Biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-618-biodiversity-conservation-in-massachusetts
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs & Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game. (2025, August 21). Massachusetts biodiversity goals report 2025. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-biodiversity-goals-report-2025/
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (2025). Biodiversity Goals for Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/biodiversity-goals-for-massachusetts

Maryland

• State of Maryland. (2023). Senate Bill 470: Maryland the Beautiful Act (Ch. 546). https://www.mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/chapters_noln/Ch_546_sb0470E.pdf
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources. (2024, May 15). Governor Moore Announces Maryland Meets 30% of State Land Conservation Goal Six Years Ahead of Schedule. https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2024/05/15/governor-moore-announces-maryland-meets-30-of-state-land-conservation-goal-six-years-ahead-of-schedule/

Michigan

• State of Michigan, Office of the Governor. (2024, June 27). Gov. Whitmer accepts invitation to join White House initiative to conserve and restore freshwater resources: America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2024/06/27/gov-whitmer-accepts-invitation-to-join-white-house-initiative
• Michigan Legislature. (2024). Senate Bill 1124. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2024‑SB‑1124
• Graham Sustainability Institute, University of Michigan. (2024). Michigan the Beautiful: Great Lakes – Final Report [PDF]. https://graham.umich.edu/media/files/Michigan-the-Beautiful-Great-Lakes-Final-Report.pdf -Michigan Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Michigan the Beautiful—conserving 30% of Michigan’s lands and waters by 2030. State of Michigan. Retrieved January 30, 2026. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/mtb

New Jersey

• State of New Jersey, Office of the Governor. (2025, June 3). New Jersey joins Global Commitment to Preserve 30 % of Natural Lands by 2030. https://web.archive.org/web/20251016215612/https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562025/approved/20250603c.shtml.

New Mexico

• State of New Mexico. (2021, August 25). Executive Order 2021‑052: Protecting New Mexico’s Lands, Watersheds, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage. https://www.governor.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Executive-Order-2021-052.pdf
• New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Forestry Division. (2024). 30 × 30 New Mexico: 2024 Annual Report. https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/30x30-2024-Annual-Report-Final.pdf

New York

• New York State Senate. (2021). Assembly Bill A5390 [Legislation]. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/A5390
• New York State Senate. (2021). Senate Bill S6191 [Legislation]. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S6191
• State of New York. (2022, December 23). Environmental Conservation Law § 49‑0113 — Thirty by thirty conservation goal. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ENV/49‑0113
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation & New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. (2024, July). New York State 30×30: Draft strategies and methodology – Conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 [PDF]. https://www.dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/nys30x30draft.pdf

South Carolina

• South Carolina Legislature. (2020). S.1024: Environmental protection and conservation (123rd Leg.). https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/bills/1024.htm
• South Carolina Legislature. (2021). S.220: SC Thirty‑by‑Thirty Conservation Act (124th Leg.). https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/220.htm
• State of Vermont. (2023, June). Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (Act 59). Vermont General Assembly. https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/ACTS/ACT059/ACT059%20As%20Enacted.pdf

Vermont

• Vermont Housing and Conservation Board & Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. (2025). The draft Vermont conservation plan framework report [PDF]. https://lab2.future-iq.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/VCP-draft-framework-V03.pdf
• Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. (n.d.). 30 by 30 (Act 59). Retrieved January 30, 2026. https://vhcb.org/conservation/act-59/

Contact

Author: Cassie Buhler