A brother-sister duo from Santa Barbara County has sued California, contending that a state law prohibiting the drilling of new oil and gas wells infringes on their family’s property rights.
John and Melinda Morgan, owners of a long-held mineral estate in Santa Barbara County, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on January 27, 2026.
They argue that Senate Bill 1137 eliminates any productive use of the estate, according to a statement by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which represents the siblings.
What is SB 1137?
Signed in 2024 by Governor Gavin Newsom, SB 1137 restricts new oil and gas drilling activities within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and other “sensitive receptors.”…