Public criticizes wildfire‑mitigation fast‑track and CEQA exemptions at committee hearing

During public comment, Tara Thornton of Freedom Angels and Protect Tahoe urged the committee to put a wildfire mitigation bill on suspense. Thornton said recent amendments would exempt many wildfire projects from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review and — by removing standard CEQA protections for conventional herbicides and establishing a ministerial CDPR permitting pathway — would "incentivize" herbicide use and create a permanent bypass of public environmental review after the bill sunsets.

"We will have no recourse for the public in any way or to choose alternatives," Thornton said, warning of long‑term fiscal risk and likely litigation related to endangered species and tribal rights. She asked the committee to send the measure to suspense so stakeholders could resolve the ministerial approval and herbicide‑exemption concerns. The chair acknowledged the comment and the committee adjourned after additional public statements on other bills.