Assembly concurs on streamlined permitting for wildfire mitigation projects

The Assembly concurred in Senate amendments and passed SB 1370, a measure to codify an emergency‑style expedited permitting pathway for non‑timber vegetation management and other wildfire mitigation projects.

Assemblymember Petrie Norris, presenting the measure, said the program rolls existing executive actions into statute "so this streamlined process can continue to help local governments and utilities with removal of dry vegetation and creating fuel breaks and roadside clearance." Supporters said the effort will speed projects that reduce catastrophic wildfire risk while retaining environmental review guardrails; some members emphasized the need to preserve limits on chemical use and monitoring.

The vote to concur in the Senate amendments was recorded in the Assembly. The bill tasks the Board of Forestry and the Natural Resources Agency with creating a successor non‑timber vegetation management program under statutory direction, and includes reporting and environmental safeguards described in the floor debate. The measure passed the Assembly (Ayes 53, No 3) and will proceed to the governor for signature.