(a) This division does not apply to either of the following:

(1) The acquisition, sale, or other transfer of interest in land by a public agency for any of the following purposes:

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(A) Preservation of natural conditions existing at the time of transfer, including plant and animal habitats.

(B) Restoration of natural conditions, including plant and animal habitats.

(C) Continuing agricultural use of the land.

(D) Prevention of encroachment of development into flood plains.

(E) Preservation of historical resources.

(F) Preservation of open space or lands for park purposes.

(2) The granting or acceptance of funding by a public agency for purposes of paragraph (1).

(b) Subdivision (a) applies even if physical changes to the environment or changes in the use of the land are a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the acquisition, sale, or other transfer of the interests in land, or of the granting or acceptance of funding, provided that environmental review otherwise required by this division occurs before any project approval that would authorize physical changes being made to that land.

(c) If the lead agency determines that an activity is not subject to this division pursuant to this section and the lead agency determines to approve or carry out the activity, the lead agency shall file a notice with the Office of Planning and Research and with the county clerk in the county in which the land is located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 181, Sec. 2. (AB 782) Effective January 1, 2020.)