AB 1891: Forestry: Beneficial Fire Capacity Program.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law authorizes a person that owns or controls brush-covered land, forest lands, woodland, grassland, and shrubland within a state responsibility area to apply to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for permission to use prescribed burning for certain public purposes. Existing law authorizes the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to enter into an agreement for prescribed burning with a person to conduct the prescribed burning operations for certain purposes. Existing law requires the department to develop a training program for prescribed fire users to certify professionals as burn bosses. Existing law requires the department to conduct an experimental program of wildland resources management through prescribed burning and other methods in 2 areas of wildlands.

This bill would require the department, on an annual basis, to allocate not less than 10% of funding appropriated to the department for local assistance and other grant programs where prescribed or beneficial fire is an eligible activity, consistent with the term of the appropriation, to expand training, organizational capacity, and support for community-led beneficial fire programs, including, but not limited to, those developed by California Native American tribes, nongovernmental organizations, universities and colleges, resources conservation districts, volunteer fire districts, and other local or special districts, as provided. The bill would require at least 25% of that allocation be awarded to California Native American tribes or tribally led or indigenous-led organizations, except as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 27, 2026Vetoed by Governor.
2. September 4, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
3. August 27, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6738.).
4. August 27, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
5. August 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
6. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
8. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
9. June 25, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 24, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 23).
11. June 3, 2026Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
12. May 27, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.