Bill > AB1699

This bill, known as the Good Fire Act, permanently extends and expands the Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program—a state initiative administered by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) that uses the Prescribed Fire Claims Fund to cover financial losses from approved controlled burns and cultural burning (intentional fires set by Indigenous peoples for cultural and ecological purposes). The legislation broadens program eligibility to cover individuals and entities statewide, except for the state and federal governments, and streamlines the process by removing the requirement for prior state approval of burn plans as long as they are reviewed by a certified "burn boss" (a qualified professional authorized to manage controlled burns) and submitted to an online portal before ignition. Additionally, the bill mandates that state-certified burn bosses undergo recertification at least every three years, authorizes CAL FIRE to waive pre-burn land inspections for certain qualified practitioners, and creates exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)—a state law requiring environmental reviews for projects—for department actions assisting beneficial fire projects. Finally, the bill requires state-funded grants for beneficial fire projects to allow overtime and double pay for workers, extends accountability reporting timelines for grant advance payments from four to six months, and takes effect immediately as an urgency statute to facilitate critical wildfire prevention and land management efforts.