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    SB-653
    Natural Resources & Water

    Wildfire prevention: environmentally sensitive vegetation management.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    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
    Bill Author
    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

    View 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

    View 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
    Bill Author
    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