On Aug. 31, the California State Legislature passed SB 901. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and simply called “Wildfires,” seeks to change how small timberland owners in California can manage their forests in an effort to improve forest health, reduce fuel loads, and prevent devastating forest fires. Additionally, the bill will appropriate $1 billion, which will be distributed via $200,000,000 grants per year for five years by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“Although not perfect and additional work will absolutely be necessary moving forward, SB 901 secures a real commitment by the state to address decades of mismanagement, fire suppression and other policies that continue to cause larger and more catastrophic wildfires year after year,” noted the California Cattlemen’s Association in an announcement about the decision.
The bill was approved 29 to 4 in the Senate and 45 to 10 in the Assembly. Now it waits for California Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature before it might become law.
