California Air Resources Board

Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish the California Wildfire Preparedness Program to (1) establish guidance for the use of available wildfire risk modeling and analysis tools by organizations, (2) develop guidance and tools related to wildfire risk assessments, (3) support the creation or updating of county-level wildfire risk assessments, (4) oversee the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, and (5) develop guidance and templates for the creation or updating of county-level wildfire preparedness prioritization and implementation plans. Amended to remove a requirement that the Wildfire County Coordinator Program coordinate with CARB to increase access to indoor clean air spaces, distribution of HEPA filters, and other activities.

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Would have required the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force), on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Department of Public Health, and CARB, to assess the health costs and impacts of high-severity wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data. The bill would have also required the Task Force to develop a model to estimate the health benefits of achieving the goals identified in the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and recommend how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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This bill authorizes the Wildlife Conservation Board, the Department of Conservation, and the Department of Fire and Forestry Protection (CalFIRE) Forest Health Grants to award regional landscape block grants to lower wildfire risk. It would also require money given to CalFIRE for landscape scale projects to also be used for activities that improve ecosystem health on chaparral, shrubland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub lands. This bill would also expand the eligible activities for CalFIRE’s local assistance grant program to include vegetation modification and management along roadways.

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Would have require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) to set aside at least 10% of their prescribed and beneficial fire program funding for beneficial fire-related activities. The funding would be given in the form of grants, programs, or other ways to expand a community’s ability to support beneficial fire programs. At least 25% of the given funds must go to California Native American tribes or indigenous-led groups.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1891 without my signature.

This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to dedicate a specified percentage of all grant funding appropriated to the Department to beneficial fire activities.

The state has nearly doubled the amount of prescribed burn treatments since 2021, treating roughly 200,000 acres annually. While I share the author's goal to increase the pace and scale of prescribed fire projects, this bill limits CAL FIRE's ability to prioritize limited state resources toward the projects and communities facing the greatest wildfire risks.

Funding decisions of this nature should be considered within the annual budget process, where they can be evaluated alongside the state's broader wildfire resilience priorities and considered among available resources.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Would have established the Biomass Innovation Park Grants and Financing Program, to be administered by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA). Would have required CNRA to facilitate the process of identifying eligible parks, develop guidelines for soliciting proposals, and specify requirements for each park.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1666 without my signature.

This bill would establish the Biomass Innovation Park Grants and Financing Program, to be administered by the Natural Resources Agency, to identify biomass innovation parks.

I thank the author for his commitment to advancing the use of wood biomass to improve forest health and build wildfire resilience. In partnership with the Legislature, my administration allocated $50 million from the Climate Bond to the Department of Conservation to develop a program to fund the development of large-scale biomass facilities and identify opportunities to accelerate the utilization of wood waste biomass.

The program proposed in this measure would require additional resources not included in this year's budget. With significant fiscal pressures and the federal government's hostile economic policies, it is vital that we remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Would have required CARB to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildlands and forest fires in the AB 32 Scoping Plan. Died at the desk.

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Requires CARB to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildlands and forest fires in the AB 32 Scoping Plan. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Authorizes up to 35 projects per year that are exclusively for noncommercial wildfire fuels reduction in timberland, less than 1,500 acres in size, and paid for in part or in whole with public funds, to prepare a timber harvesting plan as an alternative to complying with CEQA. The provision expires on January 1, 2031. Was not heard in the Senate Committee of Natural Resources and Water Committee.

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Requires CARB to designate public fire protection agencies or other equivalent agencies to oversee controlled burning activities and to exempt wildland vegetation management burning, as defined, from permitting requirements if conducted by or under the supervision of a public fire protection agency or other equivalent agency designated by CARB. The bill also requires CARB to develop guidelines and best practices for wildland vegetation management burning to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have established the Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act, which would have required the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform no later than July 1, 2026. The data platform would have, among other things, integrated wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases with the purpose of providing adequate information to understand the negative health impacts on California’s population caused by wildfire smoke and evaluating the effectiveness of investments in forest health and wildfire mitigation on health outcomes in California. Was held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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