SACRAMENTO, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a sweeping bill to increase state and local government wildfire prevention efforts Saturday.
What happened: Newsom vetoed state Sen. Josh Becker’s SB 326, which would have required several new, regularly updated strategic plans from state fire officials to forecast wildfire risk throughout California. It also would have encouraged early implementation of the state’s new draft landscaping requirements for homes in fire-prone areas by prioritizing state funds for local enforcement.
In a veto message, Newsom wrote, “The requirements of this bill would trigger substantial, ongoing costs that are not accounted for in the budget.”
Why this matters: Insurance companies, environmental groups and the counties of San Mateo and Los Angeles all backed the legislation, saying it would provide critical help coordinating efforts to lower wildfire risk.
