Legislative Update - January 2025
In mid-January, Governor Newsom released his proposed 2025-26 budget, and more details to come in the next few weeks during budget hearings. It still needs to be negotiated with the Legislature and go through a “ May revise” after April tax receipts and will be finalized in June. While the Governor and Department of Finance anticipate a minor surplus this year, which is a much better outlook than last year. There is a lot of uncertainty given the ongoing challenges of the Los Angeles fires and the unknown of a new Administration at the federal level. In the meantime, the budget relies on the recent voter-approved Proposition 4 ($10 billion climate bond) to backfill funding for various resource management, energy and, water programs. This includes $2.7 billion from Prop. 4 which the Governor proposes to use $325 million for wildfire prevention and forest resilience ($82 million would go towards the state’s forest health program). Overall, Prop. 4 includes $1.5 billion in bond funding for wildfire prevention and forest management related projects, so the Governor’s proposal only uses a portion of the Prop 4 funds. This will likely change as the L.A. fire situation plays out. For now, attached is a link to the proposed budget and the Assembly’s top line highlights.
In addition, the Governor included narrative policy notes on the State’s Cap and Trade program and energy affordability in the proposed budget. Specifically, the budget notes that reauthorizing Cap and Trade sooner (it’s set to expire in 2030) rather than later may increase market stability and advises that reauthorization should look to how proceeds are used so the state can “transition to a clean economy by investing in programs that deliver effective pollution reduction results, support clean transportation and communities, and help address energy affordability.” As to affordability, the budget promises a suite of actions to be developed by the Governor and Legislature that will create meaningful cost savings for residents.
Last, while the ongoing response to the L.A. fires continues to play out and local responders work to try and contain the fires, there are already efforts by several legislators who have, or will be, introducing various bills to address the response and recovery. This will include forest management-related bills and new legislation to streamline or exempt fire damaged areas from new building standards to expedite the cleanup and redevelopment process. It’s shaping up to be one of the top issues for the Legislature this year as witnessed by the attached article which points to an existing defensible space law that hasn’t been implemented yet. We’ll get a sense of all the bills that have been introduced by the end of February.
Below are the key Assembly committees that will impact forest management.
Utilities and Energy
- Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Chair
- Assemblymember Joe Patterson, Vice Chair
- Assemblymember Tasha Boerner
- Assemblymember Lisa Calderon
- Assemblymember Phillip Chen
- Assemblymember Mark González
- Assemblymember John Harabedian
- Assemblymember Gregg Hart
- Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
- Assemblymember Ash Kalra
- Assemblymember Diane Papan
- Assemblymember Chris Rogers
- Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo
- Assemblymember Nick Schultz
- Assemblymember Tri Ta
- Assemblymember David Tangipa
- Assemblymember Greg Wallis
- Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
*The size of the committee increased from 16 to 18 members.
Natural Resources
- Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Chair
- Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, Vice Chair
- Assemblymember Juan Alanis
- Assemblymember Damon Connolly
- Assemblymember Heath Flora
- Assemblymember Robert Garcia
- Assemblymember Matt Haney
- Assemblymember Josh Hoover
- Assemblymember Ash Kalra
- Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi
- Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
- Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom
- Assemblymember Nick Schultz
- Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
- Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
*The size of the committee increased from 12 to 15 members.
Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation
- Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Chair
- Assemblymember Damon Connolly
- Assemblymember Tom Lackey
- Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo
- Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
- Assemblymember Chris Rogers
- Assemblymember Lori Wilson
- Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Democratic Alternate
- Assemblymember Heath Flora, Republican Alternate
*The size of the committee increased from 5 to 7 members.
Senate Committee Assignments
On January 6 the Legislature reconvened back into session. Bill introduction deadline is February 21. The Senate leader announced his leadership team and full committee assignments. There are four new Senate Committee Chairs that will likely impact issues relating for forest management, natural resources, and the environment (Appropriations; Budget and Fiscal Review; Energy, Utilities and Communications; Environmental Quality; Natural Resources and Water; Transportation; Budget Subcommittee #2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy; Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
New Chairs for Key Environment, Energy and Resource Committees:
- Chair of Senate Energy and Utilities - Senator Josh Becker
- Chair of Senate Natural Resources and Water - Senator Monique Limon
- Chair of Senate Environmental Quality - Senator Catherine Blakespear
- Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee on Energy and Resources - Senator Ben Allen
- Chair of Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies - Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin
- Vice-Chair of Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies - Senator Henry Stern
Senate Leader McGuire Announces Leadership Team, Committee Membership for 2025-26 Legislative Session, First Extraordinary Session - Read Article
Associated Press Article - Zone Zero Defensible Space Regs Still Linger - Read Article
Track Bills by visiting http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and use the Quick Bill Search function.
Current Year
Legislative Archives
Appellate Decision on WFMP Case
Good News -- Exemptions and NTMPs
CAL FIRE has reversed its policy change regarding the acceptance of exemptions for NTMPs. Please refer to the link below to view the letter from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Ken Pimlott) to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Keith Gilless).
Should you have any questions, please send an email to the FLC Legislative Committee at legchair@forestlandowners.org.
Letter and Supporting Content from CAL FIRE to Board of Forestry
Legislative Committee Assignments
Public Policy Institute of California
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) issued a report in mid-September on the status of forest health in the Headwaters Forests. On September 20, there was a panel debriefing on the report. Click on the links below to download the documents.
If you are interested in wathcing the panel debrief, the video is posted on the PPIC's website: