SB-653
Natural Resources & Water

Wildfire prevention: environmentally sensitive vegetation management.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes new guidelines for state-funded vegetation management projects that reduce wildfire risk while protecting wildlife.
  • Requires monitoring before, during, and after vegetation treatments to ensure environmental protection.
  • Mandates consultation with botanists and land management experts for project planning.
  • Creates buffer zones around waterways and implements measures to protect rare species and habitats.

Summary

Senator Cortese's wildfire prevention legislation establishes new environmental criteria for state-funded vegetation management projects, defining standards that balance fire risk reduction with ecological preservation. The measure creates a framework for grant programs that support vegetation management practices designed to reduce long-term wildfire threats while maintaining native wildlife populations and biodiversity.

The bill outlines twelve specific criteria for state entities to incorporate into their grant funding guidelines. These include implementing monitoring protocols throughout treatment periods, maintaining buffer zones around waterways, consulting with botanical and land management experts, and using prescribed grazing where applicable. The guidelines also require measures to prevent habitat type conversion - defined as the displacement of dominant native plant species by non-native species following disturbance events - while allowing for the strategic replacement of certain native species with underrepresented native vegetation.

Under the proposed requirements, funded projects must follow integrated pest management principles and incorporate timing considerations to minimize impacts on wildlife and prevent invasive plant spread. The legislation mandates consultation with relevant agencies regarding rare or sensitive species protection and requires methods that mirror natural disturbance processes for maintaining rare habitats. These provisions apply to state public entities administering grants for vegetation management projects, building upon existing Department of Forestry and Fire Protection programs that provide wildland fire prevention expertise to local governments.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB653 Cortese
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Dave Cortese
Dave CorteseD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Gail Pellerin
Gail PellerinD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130114PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes new guidelines for state-funded vegetation management projects that reduce wildfire risk while protecting wildlife.
  • Requires monitoring before, during, and after vegetation treatments to ensure environmental protection.
  • Mandates consultation with botanists and land management experts for project planning.
  • Creates buffer zones around waterways and implements measures to protect rare species and habitats.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Dave Cortese
Dave CorteseD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Gail Pellerin
Gail PellerinD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator Cortese's wildfire prevention legislation establishes new environmental criteria for state-funded vegetation management projects, defining standards that balance fire risk reduction with ecological preservation. The measure creates a framework for grant programs that support vegetation management practices designed to reduce long-term wildfire threats while maintaining native wildlife populations and biodiversity.

The bill outlines twelve specific criteria for state entities to incorporate into their grant funding guidelines. These include implementing monitoring protocols throughout treatment periods, maintaining buffer zones around waterways, consulting with botanical and land management experts, and using prescribed grazing where applicable. The guidelines also require measures to prevent habitat type conversion - defined as the displacement of dominant native plant species by non-native species following disturbance events - while allowing for the strategic replacement of certain native species with underrepresented native vegetation.

Under the proposed requirements, funded projects must follow integrated pest management principles and incorporate timing considerations to minimize impacts on wildlife and prevent invasive plant spread. The legislation mandates consultation with relevant agencies regarding rare or sensitive species protection and requires methods that mirror natural disturbance processes for maintaining rare habitats. These provisions apply to state public entities administering grants for vegetation management projects, building upon existing Department of Forestry and Fire Protection programs that provide wildland fire prevention expertise to local governments.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB653 Cortese
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

June 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130114PASS

Contacts

Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member