Assembly Bill 2494 Modernizing Our State Forests System Updated: March 16, 2026
Assemblymember Chris Rogers, 2nd Assembly District
Bill Summary
AB 2494 redefines management of forest lands to
include maximizing the promotion of climate
resiliency goals, enhanced outdoor access, protecting
biodiversity, and compatible research efforts. Under
AB 2494, the sale of timber and other forest products
will be allowed only when the harvest occurs for
ecological restoration or research purposes. This bill
will also allow the Timber Regulation and Forest
Restoration Fund to spend funds for the state
demonstration forest system.
Background
The State of California owns and operates 14
demonstration state forests, spanning approximately
85,000 acres of land and including both old and
young timber growth. The Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection is authorized to manage
demonstration state forest lands and prepare
regulations for the cutting and sale of timber within
demonstration state forest lands.
Under existing law, the Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection uses forest management practices to
achieve maximum sustained production of highquality forest products, while giving some consideration to recreation, watershed, and wildlife
values. On average, 20 million board feet are
harvested from demonstration forest lands each year.
Maximum sustained production is achieved often by
preparing a timber harvest plan, a sustained yield
plan, or following a set of prescriptive silvicultural
requirements.
Revenue generated by the Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection from timber harvesting on
demonstration state forest land is required to be spent on demonstration state forests, such as funding for
research, infrastructure, recreation, and
administration. Research is conducted in all 14
demonstration state forests and ranges from
watershed protection, preservation of fish and
wildlife habitat to forest health and fire resilience.
In 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order
N-82-
conservation framework. This initiative aims to
by 2030 to meet three objectives: conserve and
restore biodiversity, expand access to nature, and
mitigate and build resilience to climate change.
Solution
This bill removes the requirement for management
of demonstration state forest lands to achieve
maximum sustained production of high-quality
forest products, and instead declares that
demonstration state forest lands be managed to be
restored to fulfill ecological conditions and
processes. AB 2494 establishes that demonstration
state forest lands be used primarily for research and
demonstration purposes and allow the sale of forest
products only when harvest occurs for ecological
restoration or research purposes.
This bill would also re
demonstration state forests as the handling of forest
vegetation and soils within state forests for
biodiversity conservation and fire resilience, while
maximizing the promotion of durable onsite carbon
storage and sequestration, climate resiliency goals,
equitable outdoor access, wildlife and recreation
opportunities, and compatible research efforts. This
is critical to support rural economies to transition
away from dwindling extractive economies and help
enhance ecotourism in these communities. The
updated management principles in this bill align with
Executive Order N-82-
30x30 initiative by encouraging ecological
restoration and building resilience to climate change
within demonstration state forests.
AB 2494 would allow the demonstration state forest
system to receive funding from the Timber
Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund and any
income generated by the system would go back into
that Fund.
AB 2494 establishes that the State of California shall
seek opportunities for co-management of
demonstration state forest lands with Native
American Tribes and integration of indigenous
traditional ecological knowledge in forest
management to achieve restoration.
Assembly Bill 2494 Modernizing Our State Forests System Updated: March 16, 2026
Assemblymember Chris Rogers, 2nd Assembly District
Lastly, AB 2494 would enact clearer requirements on
AB 1492 reporting requirements. AB 1492 was
enacted over a decade ago and requires additional
guidance on how annual reports are released and
what content is required to be a part of these annual
reports.
For More Information:
Scott Alonso, District Director
[email protected]
707-576-2526
Support
Environmental Protection Information Center
(sponsor)
California Outdoor Recreation Partnership
Coalition to Save Jackson State Forest
Mendocino Trail Stewards
Grassroots Institute, Pro-Democracy Workgroup