In the Golden State, legislators have worked across party lines to support bills that would both expand and enhance a variety of nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis. Earlier this year, Senator Monique Limon (D-19) introduced PFT-sponsored SB1101, which seeks to expand California’s use of beneficial fire to mitigate the risk of the catastrophic wildfires. SB1101 would increase a range of beneficial fire management policies and practices. To increase the amount of “good fire” on the ground at the scale and pace required to promote public safety and restore healthy ecosystems, SB1101 aims to make it easier for both CAL FIRE and private landowners to implement large-scale prescribed burns, specifically CAL FIRE’s contracting and procurement processes associated with managed and prescribed fire. The bill would also establish a more collaborative approach to planning for fire management, increasing coordination between state, federal, tribal, private, and local entities. With rare unanimous support from legislators across the spectrum of interests, SB1101 demonstrates both a deep commitment to bringing “good fire” and a more natural fire regime back to the landscape, as well as to removing barriers to expanded use of beneficial fire.

In a complementary effort, California State Assemblymember, Diane Papan (D), recently introduced AB3023—sponsored by PFT—which aims
to foster more efficient operations from the multiple state programs aimed at tackling the complex and interrelated effects of climate change. AB3023 would enhance coordination and efficiencies between departments, boards, and programs to fund and implement holistic solutions to the overlapping crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and water security. It specifically targets the increased coordination between the state organizations responsible for water supply, fire/fuels management, ecosystem health, conservation and climate resilience. Especially considering the state’s current budget reductions, such enhanced efficiencies can increase the net impact of state investments without requiring additional funding.