California Environmental Quality Act: California Vegetation Treatment Program.

Assembly Member Bryan's proposal to update California's Vegetation Treatment Program would expand the geographic scope of wildland management activities while incorporating indigenous cultural practices. The measure requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to revise its environmental impact guidelines by January 2027 to allow vegetation treatment across all suitable areas of the state, regardless of fire suppression designation.

The updated environmental requirements would mandate that projects outline plans for biomass disposal, including potential commercial sales to offset costs. The revisions would also formally recognize cultural burning practices conducted by Native American tribes as approved treatment activities and integrate indigenous ecological knowledge into vegetation management protocols. Public agencies would gain explicit authority to partner with federally recognized California tribes on treatment projects within their jurisdictions.

These changes would modify the program's existing environmental review framework, which currently guides ecological restoration, fuel break creation, and wildland-urban interface fuel reduction efforts. The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection certified the original guidelines in December 2019 under the California Environmental Quality Act, which establishes requirements for assessing and mitigating environmental impacts of government activities.