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Measure SB 653
Authors Cortese  
Coauthors: Kalra   Pellerin   Richardson  
Subject Wildfire prevention: environmentally sensitive vegetation management.
Relating To relating to wildfire prevention.
Title An act to add Section 4743 to the Public Resources Code, relating to wildfire prevention.
Last Action Dt 2025-10-13
State Chaptered
Status Chaptered
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program No
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-10-13     Approved by the Governor.
2025-10-13     Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 778, Statutes of 2025.
2025-09-16     Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-08     Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2606.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-03     Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 71. Noes 1. Page 2870.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-03     In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-02     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29     Coauthors revised.
2025-08-29     From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-07-09     July 9 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-06-26     Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.
2025-06-26     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-06-25     Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-06-24     From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23).
2025-06-05     Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-05-29     Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1338.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-29     In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-27     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23     From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1208.) (May 23).
2025-05-23     Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-16     Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-05     May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-25     Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-23     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 839.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-10     From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-04-04     Set for hearing April 22.
2025-04-02     Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-03-24     From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-05     Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-21     From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20     Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Chaptered     2025-10-13
Enrolled     2025-09-10
Amended Assembly     2025-06-25
Amended Senate     2025-05-23
Amended Senate     2025-04-10
Amended Senate     2025-03-24
Introduced     2025-02-20
Last Version Text
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Cortese</ns0:AuthorText>
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		<ns0:Title>An act to add Section 4743 to the Public Resources Code, relating to wildfire prevention. </ns0:Title>
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			<ns0:Subject>Wildfire prevention: environmentally sensitive vegetation management.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p>Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with policies established by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to assist local governments in preventing future high-intensity wildland fires and instituting appropriate fuels management by making its wildland fire prevention and vegetation management expertise available to local governments, as provided.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would define an environmentally sensitive vegetation management project to mean vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire risk over the long term while supporting native wildlife and biodiversity. The bill would require a state public entity to consider
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		environmentally sensitive vegetation management projects.</html:p>
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				Section 4743 is added to the 
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								(a)
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								For purposes of this section, “environmentally sensitive vegetation management” means vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire risk over the long term while supporting native wildlife and biodiversity.
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								For purposes of this section, “type conversion” means the process of dominant native plant species, including, but not limited to, native shrubs, being significantly reduced or extirpated and nonnative species colonizing an area due to disturbance events, including, but not limited to, wildfire incidents. For purposes of this section, “type conversion” does not include the removal of native species to make room for other native, but
				  underrepresented, vegetation.
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								For a grant program that funds an environmentally sensitive vegetation management project, a state public entity shall consider incorporating into its funding guidelines all of the following criteria:
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								(1)
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								Follows the
				  principles of integrated pest management as defined in Section 11401.7 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
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								(2)
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								Implements measures to support native plant health and biodiversity.
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								Maximizes long-term risk reduction of catastrophic wildfire.
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								Uses
				  monitoring plans, as determined by the funding entity, and incorporates monitoring before, during, and after vegetation management treatments.
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								Uses methods that mimic natural disturbance processes to maintain rare habitats.
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								Times vegetation management to minimize
				  the potential impacts to wildlife and minimize the reproduction of invasive plants.
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								Minimizes erosion impacts from vegetation management.
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								Includes consultation with native plant botanists and land management experts.
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								Leaves buffers
				  around bodies of water to protect watershed health.
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								(10)
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								Uses prescribed grazing, as defined in Section 4004.5, where applicable.
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								Avoids habitat type conversion.
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								Implements measures to avoid impacts to rare or sensitive
				  species and habitats, in consultation with relevant agencies.
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Last Version Text Digest Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with policies established by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to assist local governments in preventing future high-intensity wildland fires and instituting appropriate fuels management by making its wildland fire prevention and vegetation management expertise available to local governments, as provided. This bill would define an environmentally sensitive vegetation management project to mean vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire risk over the long term while supporting native wildlife and biodiversity. The bill would require a state public entity to consider incorporating specified criteria into its funding guidelines for a grant program that funds environmentally sensitive vegetation management projects.