As a bill to rescue the city’s budget heads to the state Senate, environmentalists who oppose AB 1991 say they’re looking forward to a fairer fight.

The legislation, which would allow the city to avoid an $18 million payment in settlement of a $41.1 million judgment, passed 45-19 in the state Assembly on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, Sierra Club California Deputy Director Paul Mason said that although he was disappointed with the Assembly vote, he looks forward to senators hearing the concerns of environmentalists. AB 1991 was passed without being heard in environmental committee — something Mason said he doubts will happen in the Senate.

“A bill that ignores all environmental laws should certainly be heard in an environmental committee,” he said.

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The bill is expected to be assigned to a Senate committee within the week. Proponents of the bill, which was authored by Assemblymember Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco, are also looking for a senator to sponsor it.

Environmentalists believe they will have more luck now that Mullin is out of the picture.

“I think his personal charms will carry less weight in the Senate,” Mason said.

Both sides say they will be talking individually to senators.

Half Moon Bay Mayor Bonnie McClung on Thursday said she was still beaming from the bill’s passage in the Assembly.

“I’m very excited and happy it went that way,” she said. “I think it gives it some momentum going into the Senate.”

The bill, if passed, would allow the city to avoid paying the $18 million to developer Charles “Chop” Keenan by allowing him to build subdivisions on two properties containing wetlands.

The California Coastal Commission, Sierra Club and other environmental organizations oppose the bill, claiming it sets a precedent for cities to flout environmental law. Half Moon Bay officials insist the bill’s language is narrowly written to the city’s dire circumstances and could not be applied elsewhere.

tbarak@sfexaminer.com