Bill > AB1227

This bill addresses wildfire safety by creating a temporary exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for certain critical fuels reduction projects in very high fire hazard severity zones. The exemption applies to projects that remove hazardous trees, create strategic fuel breaks, clear vegetation along roadways to improve evacuation routes, use cultural burning techniques, or maintain existing fuel breaks. To qualify for the exemption, removed vegetation must be non-native, less than eight inches in diameter, and a common species. Before implementing such a project, the lead agency must hold a public meeting and provide at least 30 days' notice on its website, and must file a notice of exemption with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the county clerk. Additionally, the bill requires the California Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Agency to report to the Legislature by January 31, 2026, on the implementation of the Governor's March 1, 2025 emergency proclamation that suspended certain regulations to expedite fuels reduction projects. The exemption will remain in effect until January 1, 2028. The bill aims to streamline wildfire prevention efforts by reducing bureaucratic barriers to vegetation management in high-risk fire areas, while still maintaining a level of public transparency and input.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1227