Bill > AB1456

This bill modifies the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by requiring the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to update the California Vegetation Treatment Program's Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) by January 1, 2027. The update will expand treatable landscapes across California for ecological restoration, fuel breaks, and wildland-urban interface fuel reduction, regardless of fire suppression responsibilities. The bill also mandates that projects under the FPEIR include plans for biomass disposal or potential commercial sale, and recognizes cultural burning and indigenous ecological knowledge as important components of vegetation management. Additionally, the bill allows public agencies to collaborate with federally recognized California Native American tribes on vegetation treatment projects within their jurisdictions. The update aims to integrate more comprehensive and culturally sensitive approaches to vegetation management, while ensuring the existing FPEIR remains valid during the update process. The bill reflects broader efforts to improve environmental management, wildfire prevention, and tribal engagement in California's land conservation strategies.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1456