Urban forestry: school greening.

Assembly Member Garcia's urban forestry legislation expands California's Urban Forestry Act to incorporate school greening initiatives while extending the timeline for the state's urban forest strategic plan. The bill adds school grounds improvement as an eligible project category under existing urban forestry programs and grant funding mechanisms.

The legislation establishes school greening as a formal benefit under the Urban Forestry Act, defining it as projects that reduce ambient temperatures on school properties through tree planting and associated green infrastructure. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection must now provide technical assistance to urban areas for creating tree-shaded, natural school grounds in child-accessible areas to support student health and learning.

The bill extends the deadline for the department's statewide urban forest strategic plan from June 2025 to June 2026. This plan must outline paths to achieve a 10-percent increase in urban tree canopy cover by 2035, with priority given to disadvantaged and low-income communities. The department can now authorize advance payments of up to 25 percent of total grant awards for nonprofit organizations serving these communities.

Under the amended grant provisions, the department may fund school greening projects that optimize tree canopy cover and nature-based learning opportunities. The legislation maintains existing cost-share requirements of 25 to 90 percent for urban forestry grants, while preserving the director's authority to waive these requirements for projects in disadvantaged and low-income communities.