California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would require the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to research, and provide a report to the Legislature with recommendations for, ways in which a community that undertakes science-supported wildfire resilience actions can be recognized with a peer-reviewed, community-level certification in order to acknowledge and motivate wildfire resilience activity, on or before January 1, 2023. The bill is contingent on a $2 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund each year through the 2022–23 fiscal year to CNRA for purposes of this research and report. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have deleted the requirement that prescribed burns initiated at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention's request be on lands owned by a nonprofit organization or other public agencies. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would extend the funding committed by SB 901 (Dodd, Chapter 626, Statutes of 2018) for fire prevention and management projects by continuously appropriating $200 million to California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Beginning in the 2021-2022 fiscal year and ending in the 2028-2029 fiscal year, $200 million from GGRF would be appropriated to CAL FIRE for (1) healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects and (2) prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. 

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Summary

Would require the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, before December 31, 2022, and before December 31 of each year thereafter, to identify priority fuel reduction projects. The bill would also exempt the identified priority fuel reduction projects from specified legal requirements. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Among other things, the bill would continuously appropriate, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, $480 million to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and $20 million to the California Conservation Corps for fire prevention activities, indefinitely extending existing law that allows the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt certain forest management activities from obtaining approval from CAL FIRE for a timber harvesting plan. Forest management activities eligible for exemption include cutting or removing trees on property that reduces flammable materials and maintains a fuelbreak for 300 feet on each side of a habitable structure. This bill would also extend the distance of the fuelbreak to 500 feet. Finally, this bill would exempt certain forest health and fuel reduction activities from the California Environmental Quality Act. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB to identify and make recommendations for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions from wildfires in each update to the Scoping Plan after January 1, 2022. The bill also states the intent to make a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation for wildfire mitigation and prevention. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Contains statutory provisions necessary to implement the Budget Act of 2021. Among other things, the bill continuously appropriates $200 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) annually until the 2028-29 fiscal year for healthy forest and fire prevention programs and projects that improve forest health and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases caused by wildfires and for completion of prescribed fires and other fuel reduction projects. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the bill makes available $50 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year to the Department of Conservation, in coordination with CARB and the California Energy Commission, for pilot projects in the Sierra Nevada to create carbon-negative fuels from materials resulting from forest vegetation management. The bill also requires the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), upon appropriation by the Legislature, to administer a grant program through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Program to provide financial assistance to promote in-state development of infrastructure, food waste prevention, or other projects to reduce organic waste or process organic and other recyclable materials into new, value-added products. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan Fund receives funding from GGRF. Additionally, this bill extends the eligibility for the existing fuel cell net energy metering tariff that utilities have filed with the California Public Utilities Commission from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2023.

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Summary

Early action budget package that amends the 2020-21 Budget Act. Among other things, the bill appropriates money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) for wildfire prevention, natural resources, and forest resiliency. The bill also makes re-appropriations to extend encumbrance and expenditure dates for GGRF appropriations. 

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Summary

Would, among other provisions, require local governments to make additional considerations in their General Plans and zoning codes regarding wildfire risk. Some elements of these planning considerations would be informed by standards developed by the State Fire Marshall, in coordination with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Governor’s Office of Research and Planning. The bill would also add a sixth Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) objective to promote resilient communities and would adjust the RHNA allocation process to account for wildfire risk. Additionally, the bill would create a grant program at CAL FIRE to support wildfire risk reduction projects. Failed passage in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee and was granted reconsideration.

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Summary

Would have required, no later than July 1, 2021, that the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the California Environmental Protection Agency, CARB, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, establish carbon sequestration goals for natural and working lands.  The bill would have required CARB to include specified carbon dioxide removal targets as part of its Scoping Plan.  Finally, the bill would have required the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to maintain a registry of carbon sequestration projects seeking funding.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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