Senator Seyarto's proposal to expand California's wildfire mitigation grant program would add several new categories of eligible projects under the $135 million program established by the 2024 Safe Drinking Water and Wildfire Prevention Bond Act. The legislation modifies the existing grant framework to include funding for improvements to public evacuation routes in high-risk fire zones and specialized firefighting equipment.

The bill authorizes grants to local agencies, state entities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for the installation of mobile rigid dip tanks and water storage units - steel containers designed to resist vandalism while providing reliable water access for ground crews and helicopters during firefighting operations. These infrastructure additions complement the program's existing support for community hardening projects, which include critical infrastructure protection, smoke mitigation systems, and evacuation centers.

Under the modified program, the Office of Emergency Services would continue coordinating with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to administer grants, prioritizing applications based on the state's Fire Risk Reduction Community list. The legislation maintains requirements for technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and economically distressed areas to ensure equitable access to wildfire preparedness resources.