Senate passes bill forcing billionaire to reopen road to public beach

SACRAMENTO (KGO) -- The state senate passed an amended bill Thursday requiring billionaire Vinod Kholsa to negotiate with the state to restore access to Martin's Beach in Half Moon Bay. The bill is now on its way to the governor's desk.

Kholsa, who co-founded tech company Sun Micro Systems, closed a private access road to the public beach when he bought ocean-front property there in 2008. The new bill would require Kholsa to negotiate with the State Lands Commission to restore public access to the beach.

Kholsa has argued he doesn't need permission to close the road.