SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – With drought conditions threatening another serious wildfire season, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, lauded an agreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to invest $536 million in wildfire prevention and resiliency measures.

“Wildfire prevention and response is a top priority in California, especially with drier conditions expected from this year’s drought,” said Sen. Dodd, a member of the Senate Wildfire Working Group advising on preparedness planning. “This makes sound investments in what we need to safeguard life and property. I applaud my fellow lawmakers for taking this proactive step toward avoiding the devastation we’ve seen over the past five years.”

The package, which is consistent with the Senate’s “Blueprint for a Fire Safe California” released last month, grew from an agreement with the governor, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, D- San Diego, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood. It will provide short- and long-term funding for wildfire, climate, watershed, and forest health, as well as implement modern-day vegetation, forest management, and community hardening plans, and train and deploy a fire resiliency workforce.

Among its key provisions is multi-year funding on projects with both wildfire and drought resilience benefits, and investing in Senate priorities such as Cal Fire grants for small landowners, funding for home hardening, urban greening and forestry, and funding for immediate, shovel-ready projects across the state. Highlights include : More than $280 million to create resilient wildlands; manage forest health; $200 million for development of wildfire fuel breaks; $30 million for community and home hardening; $25 million for forest sector economic stimulus; $3 million for science-based forest management.

The early action budget item will be amended into a budget bill and taken up by the Legislature in coming days.

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