Committee advances measure to let tribes access conservation grants, with caveats
AB 53 would open specific Wildlife Conservation Board grants and inland-wetland programs to federally recognized tribes and expresses legislative intent to facilitate land return; supporters emphasized tribal stewardship, opponents urged safeguards on public accountability and funding implications.
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Assemblymember Ramos and sponsors described AB 53 as a step toward enabling tribal stewardship by removing administrative barriers to grants and loans under the California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program and the Inland Wetlands Conservation Program. Scott Quinn of the Karuk Council and Melody Meyer of EPIC said the bill recognizes tribal stewardship and would provide tools to restore and manage ancestral lands while honoring existing conservation restrictions.
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