AB-1089 • 2026

Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: industrial projects and commercial projects: tree removal and trimming.

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Carrillo
Last action: 2026-01-22
Official status: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed by the governor, but it is not clear if lawmakers will override this decision.

Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: Business Projects

This law allows cities to give permits for removing or trimming western Joshua trees during commercial and industrial projects under certain conditions, but limits when fees can be paid instead of protecting the trees.

What This Bill Does

Allows cities to issue permits for removing or trimming western Joshua trees in commercial and industrial projects if they meet specific conditions.
Removes restrictions that only allow dead or live trees to be trimmed or removed, now any tree can get a permit under certain conditions.
Gives free permits without fees if the tree is near an existing single-family home or needs trimming for safety reasons.

Who It Names or Affects

Businesses and cities involved in commercial and industrial projects
Homeowners who need to trim trees near their homes

Terms To Know

Western Joshua Tree: A type of tree that is protected by law because it is rare and important for the environment.
Permit: An official document allowing someone to do something that would otherwise be against the rules, like removing a protected tree.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the governor and it is not clear if lawmakers will override this decision.
It does not specify how much money cities can charge for permits related to commercial or industrial projects.

Bill History

2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 3386.).
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2921.).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 16).
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 0. Page 1319.)
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W. P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1089, Carrillo.
Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: industrial projects and commercial projects: tree removal and trimming.
(1) Existing law, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, prohibits any person or public agency from importing into the state, exporting out of the state, or taking, possessing, purchasing, or selling within the state, a western Joshua tree or any part or product of the tree, except as provided. Under existing law, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may authorize, by permit, the taking of a western Joshua tree if certain conditions are met, including, among other conditions, that the permittee mitigates all
impacts to, and the taking of, the western Joshua tree. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement with any county or city to delegate to the county or city the ability to authorize the taking of a western Joshua tree associated with developing single-family residences, multifamily residences, accessory structures, and public works projects concurrent with its approval of the project if certain conditions are met. Existing law authorizes any person or public agency receiving a take authorization for a project to pay specified fees in lieu of satisfying the mitigation obligation on several bases, including if the project receives a permit issued by a county or city.
This bill would additionally authorize the department to enter into an agreement with any city to delegate to the city the ability to authorize the taking of western Joshua trees associated with developing commercial and industrial projects. The bill would, relative to other project
types subject to delegated local mitigation authority, limit the bases for commercial or industrial projects to pay specified fees in lieu of satisfying the mitigation obligation, as provided.
(2) Existing law authorizes the department to issue a permit to authorize either the removal or trimming of a dead western Joshua tree or the trimming of a live western Joshua tree.
This bill would remove the reference to a dead or live western Joshua tree, thereby authorizing the department to issue a permit to authorize either the removal or trimming of any western Joshua tree.
Existing law authorizes the department to issue a permit for these purposes, without the payment of fees or other mitigation, provided that a dead western Joshua tree or any limbs to be removed meet at least one of a specified list of conditions.
This bill would revise and recast this provision to instead authorize the department to issue a permit, without the payment of fees or other mitigation, if either the western Joshua tree is located within 100 feet of an existing single-family home and any associated accessory structure or that removal or trimming is necessary for the homeowner to meet defensible space requirements, as provided.

Current Bill Text

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