AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 25, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 23, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 10, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

93

CHAPTER 778

Statutes of 2025

[ Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025. ]

Introduced by Senator Cortese

(Coauthor: Senator Richardson)

February 20, 2025

An act to add Section 4743 to the Public Resources Code, relating to wildfire prevention.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with policies established by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to assist local governments in preventing future high-intensity wildland fires and instituting appropriate fuels management by making its wildland fire prevention and vegetation management expertise available to local governments, as provided.

This bill would define an environmentally sensitive vegetation management project to mean vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire risk over the long term while supporting native wildlife and biodiversity. The bill would require a state public entity to consider incorporating specified criteria into its funding guidelines for a grant program that funds environmentally sensitive vegetation management projects.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the use of environmentally sensitive vegetation management practices that maintain ecological health and strengthen biodiversity while mitigating wildfire risk.

SEC. 2.

Section 4743 is added to the Public Resources Code, immediately following Section 4742, to read:

4743.

(a) For purposes of this section, “environmentally sensitive vegetation management” means vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire risk over the long term while supporting native wildlife and biodiversity.

(b) For purposes of this section, “type conversion” means the process of dominant native plant species, including, but not limited to, native shrubs, being significantly reduced or extirpated and nonnative species colonizing an area due to disturbance events, including, but not limited to, wildfire incidents. For purposes of this section, “type conversion” does not include the removal of native species to make room for other native, but underrepresented, vegetation.

(c) For a grant program that funds an environmentally sensitive vegetation management project, a state public entity shall consider incorporating into its funding guidelines all of the following criteria:

(1) Follows the principles of integrated pest management as defined in Section 11401.7 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(2) Implements measures to support native plant health and biodiversity.

(3) Maximizes long-term risk reduction of catastrophic wildfire.

(4) Uses monitoring plans, as determined by the funding entity, and incorporates monitoring before, during, and after vegetation management treatments.

(5) Uses methods that mimic natural disturbance processes to maintain rare habitats.

(6) Times vegetation management to minimize the potential impacts to wildlife and minimize the reproduction of invasive plants.

(7) Minimizes erosion impacts from vegetation management.

(8) Includes consultation with native plant botanists and land management experts.

(9) Leaves buffers around bodies of water to protect watershed health.

(10) Uses prescribed grazing, as defined in Section 4004.5, where applicable.

(11) Avoids habitat type conversion.

(12) Implements measures to avoid impacts to rare or sensitive species and habitats, in consultation with relevant agencies.