AB-1456 • 2026

California Environmental Quality Act: California Vegetation Treatment Program.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Bryan
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Updating Vegetation Treatment Program

This law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to update the California Vegetation Treatment Program's environmental impact report by January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to update the California Vegetation Treatment Program Final Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) by January 1, 2027.
Expands areas where vegetation treatment can happen based on what is suitable for such treatments.
Recognizes cultural burning done by Native American tribes as a valid treatment activity.
Allows public agencies to work with federally recognized California Native American tribes on projects.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
Public agencies in California
Federally recognized California Native American tribes

Terms To Know

Environmental Impact Report (EIR): A document that explains the environmental effects of a project or program.
California Vegetation Treatment Program: A program focused on managing vegetation to reduce fire risks and protect natural resources.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the update is not completed by January 1, 2027.
It's unclear how much funding will be provided for updating the report or partnering with tribes.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16).
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and N.R. & W.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1997.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1456, as amended, Bryan.
California Environmental Quality Act: California Vegetation Treatment Program.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA authorizes the preparation and certification of an EIR for a program, plan, policy, or ordinance, commonly known as a “program EIR,”
and requires a lead agency to examine later activities in the program in light of the program EIR to determine whether an additional environmental document is required to be prepared.
This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2027, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to update the California Vegetation Treatment Program Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) to, among other things, expand the area that is treatable landscape under the FPEIR to portions of the state suitable for vegetation treatment consistent with the FPEIR, regardless of fire suppression responsibility designation, and recognize cultural burning conducted pursuant to a specified law as a covered treatment activity. The bill would authorize a public agency to partner with a federally recognized California Native American tribe to conduct a project under the FPEIR in the agency’s jurisdiction.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF