Plain English Breakdown
The official status shows the bill passed both chambers but reached final enrollment; however, no effective date is listed in the provided metadata.
Wildfire Preparedness Plans for Endangered Species
This law lets local agencies submit wildfire safety plans to the Department of Fish and Wildlife so they can work in fire hazard zones while protecting endangered, threatened, or candidate animals.
What This Bill Does
- Allows cities, counties, city-counties, special districts, and other local groups to send a wildfire preparedness plan to the department for land marked as a fire hazard severity zone.
- Requires these plans to list planned activities, approximate dates, and any candidate, endangered, or threatened species in that area.
- Allows the department to charge a fee to cover the cost of reviewing each submitted plan.
- Orders the department to reply within 90 days if enough information is provided about whether permits are needed or if other exemptions apply.
- Requires the department to give guidance on how to avoid, minimize, and fully mitigate harm to wildlife in its response.
- Mandates that a standard form for these plans be posted online by July 1, 2026.
Who It Names or Affects
- Cities, counties, city-counties, special districts, and other local agencies
- The Department of Fish and Wildlife
Terms To Know
- Incidental take
- Harming or killing a protected animal while doing another legal activity like clearing brush for fire safety.
- Fire hazard severity zone
- An area marked by the State Fire Marshal as having moderate, high, or very high risk of wildfire.
Limits and Unknowns
- The department only has to respond within 90 days if the plan includes enough information for them to make a decision.
- The law allows fees but does not specify how much money will be charged.
- The bill requires annual summaries of plans starting in 2027, which is future action.