Legislature preserves goat and sheep herder wage parity tied to wildfire mitigation funding

The employment and labor trailer bill (SB AB 187) includes a reauthorization of an alternative minimum wage for goat and sheep herders through Jan. 1, 2029. Committee members and multiple public commenters praised the change as preserving an on‑the‑ground wildfire mitigation tool: goats and sheep used for prescribed grazing to reduce fuels.

"So we were able to do that. And so I think there's a lot of people that actually thought about, losing the goats that actually help with a lot of the wildfire mitigation and management," the vice chair (speaker 3) said when thanking colleagues for the inclusion. Agricultural groups and county coalitions followed in public comment to express appreciation for the wage‑parity language and related GGRF investments that support multi‑benefit land repurposing.

Speakers said maintaining wage parity ensures grazing services remain available for prescribed burning alternatives and landscape fuel reductions; some asked for continued funding and oversight to ensure these programs are sustainable beyond the trailer bill's reauthorization period.