Wildfire prevention: assessment: accreditation.

Senator Cabaldon's wildfire prevention legislation extends California's defensible space assessment programs indefinitely while creating a new three-tiered accreditation system for local entities implementing fire safety measures. The bill removes the January 2026 sunset date for programs that enable qualified organizations to conduct property inspections and educate homeowners about fire-resistant improvements.

The legislation establishes bronze, silver, and gold accreditation levels for neighborhoods, fire safe councils, and local governments based on their adoption of specific wildfire mitigation practices. Entities can earn points toward accreditation through actions like creating fuel breaks, installing reflective address signs, and achieving Firewise USA community status. Local governments must also meet minimum fire safety standards and demonstrate compliance rates for home hardening measures to qualify.

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will maintain a standardized reporting platform for defensible space assessment data and publish accredited entities on its website. The department must submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing inspection results, compliance rates across jurisdictions, and enforcement actions. A new pilot program utilizing trained volunteers, funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, will support these assessment and education efforts.