TESTIMONY OF DOUG STOY
IN SUPPORT: ASSEMBLY BILL 429 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER HEATHER HADWICK
ASSEMBLY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
MARCH 17, 2025
SACRAMENTO
Editor’s Note: . Doug Stoy is a Board Member of Associated California Loggers and is the Plumas-Sierra Chapter Chair. Doug owns DL Stoy Logging, based in Quincy, California, Plumas County
Doug and his family lived nearby in Greenville until the massive Dixie Fire of 2021 destroyed their home and the home of many others in Plumas County. On March 17, 2025, Doug Stoy travelled to Sacramento to speak at the first legislative hearing on Assembly Bill 429, authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick( R ), of Redding and the northeast of California.
Here are Doug’s remarks:
BEGIN: “My name is Doug Stoy and I am a constituent of Assembly District 1. I am here today to share my story, which represents so many other people just like me. On August 4 of 2021, the Dixie Fire, one of the largest wildfires in state history, completely destroyed the small mountain community of Greenville. Along with all the other destruction of this nearly one million acre forest fire was my home and all my family’s belongings. Pretty much everything we owned was lost that day, we literally had the clothes on our backs and the vehicles that we were driving to escape.”
“I am a lifelong resident of Greenville, I graduated from high school there, my children went to school there, my wife and I had planned on living out the rest of our lives in our new dream home we had just built a few years earlier. This fire robbed us not just of our physical possessions, but all the goals and ideas we had for our future. So many birthday parties that would not be held in our beautiful yard, or prom pictures that would not be taken by our big fireplace. All literally went up in smoke on that August day and now we must regroup, and try to find a path forward for my family and our devastated community.”
We received a good deal of settlement money to try and rebuild and replace all that was lost. Although I am very grateful for funds allotted to this effort, it was nowhere near enough to replace what we once had. The simple fact is things cost more today and we ran out of money before we could rebuild everything back as it once was. I believe any attempt to tax this money would be grossly unfair and completely disrespectful to the people who lost everything.
We should be here today discussing what more could be done to help these folks get back on their feet, not exploring what avenue the state has to tax them more. Every dollar taken from these families in taxation is one less dollar they have to put food on the table. I am confident that this committee will have the wisdom to unanimously get behind this bill and send it to the Governor for his signature. No reasonable person could think anything but the complete support of AB 429 would be just and fair.”
“I thank you for your time today and I ask you to keep the fire victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to try and get our lives back to normal” (END)
EDITOR’S NOTE: After Doug Stoy spoke at length as the lead witness in favor of the bill, other people spoke briefly in support as well, including Associated California Loggers Executive Director Eric Carleson.
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Chair Mike Gipson(D-Carson) announced that AB 429 would be voted on a later hearing of the committee, along with other bills “being held” for review of cost. ACL will follow this bill through the Legislative and budget process. Many thanks to Doug Stoy for coming to Sacramento!
TO WATCH VIDEO OF DOUG’S TESTIMONY. GO TO THIS LINK: www.assembly.ca.gov/media-
VIDEO OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 17:
ONE: DISCUSSION OF AB 429 WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER HEATHER HADWICK BEGINS AT 49:30
TWO: TESTIMONY OF DOUG STOY BEGINS AT 52:00