The bill amends the Forest and Watershed Restoration Act to enhance the eligibility criteria for funding from the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund. It introduces new definitions, including "buffer," which refers to areas treated to reduce wildfire fuel and act as barriers between properties, and "wildland-urban interface," which describes zones where human development meets undeveloped wildland. The bill specifies that projects aimed at creating or maintaining these buffers in and around wildland-urban interfaces are now eligible for funding, alongside existing project types focused on forest and watershed restoration.

Additionally, the bill outlines the criteria for project funding eligibility, emphasizing the importance of public benefit and alignment with state forest and watershed health plans. It highlights that projects targeting high-risk areas and those that create or maintain buffers in wildland-urban interfaces will be prioritized for funding. The amendments aim to improve wildfire management and watershed health while fostering economic development through the utilization of small-diameter trees and wood biomass.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 68-4-2, 68-4-5
Final Version: 68-4-2, 68-4-5