Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: fees

The law guides how fees paid instead of on-site mitigation are set, aiming to ensure they fully support conservation of the species.

What the law does ​

• Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to adjust western Joshua tree mitigation fees annually.
• Requires the department to adopt or update fee regulations every three years, beginning by December 31, 2026, or by June 30, 2027, if the bill's contingent AB 1808 provisions take effect.
• Requires the department to consider fees proportional to project impacts and tiered by project type, size, or other criteria.
• Requires total-cost accounting for land or conservation easements, monitoring, restoration, transaction costs, and long-term land-management or easement-stewardship funding.

Who it affects ​

• Permit holders that choose to pay fees rather than complete required mitigation for taking western Joshua trees.
• Projects that require authorization to take western Joshua trees.
• The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Commission.

Context ​

The Fish and Game Commission must review the tree's status and conservation plan at least every two years starting in 2026.