Newsom vetoes Jackson Demonstration State Forest bill, citing need for flexibility

Young conifers stand in Jackson Demonstration State Forest near Willits. Photo: Roger Coryell/Bay City News — Young conifers stand in Jackson Demonstration State Forest near Willits, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. The Legislature gave final passage to Assembly Bill 2494 on Thursday, Aug. 27. The bill, which Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto, would redefine how California manages its demonstration forests around public benefits including watershed health and wildfire resilience. (Roger Coryell/Bay City News)

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2494, which would have changed the management priorities for Jackson Demonstration State Forest and California’s 13 other demonstration state forests.

Read the full story at SFGate →