Fuel modification and reduction projects: California Environmental Quality Act: coastal development permits: exemptions.

Assembly Member Dixon's proposal to streamline California's fire prevention efforts would exempt certain fuel modification and reduction projects from environmental review requirements under both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The legislation creates exemptions for projects maintaining 100-foot defensible spaces around buildings and structures, as well as broader fuel reduction work aimed at preventing wildfire spread.

The bill modifies existing environmental review processes in two key ways. First, it adds a new CEQA exemption specifically for fuel modification and reduction projects, though these must still comply with requirements under Public Resources Code Section 4799.05. Second, it amends the Coastal Act to remove coastal development permit requirements for the same categories of fire prevention work, while maintaining a 14-day notification requirement to the Coastal Commission when such projects begin.

Under the local implementation framework, city and county agencies would determine whether specific projects qualify for these new exemptions. While the bill creates additional responsibilities for local governments, it includes no state reimbursement requirement, as local agencies retain authority to levy fees and charges to cover associated costs. The legislation maintains existing emergency exemptions for disaster response work and highway repairs while expanding exemptions specifically for preventive fire safety measures.