Wildfire Prevention

Prohibits local governments from blocking firefighter participation in cancer prevention research studies. Ensures fire departments can provide facility access and equipment for cancer research grant studies. Supports the existing California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program.

Extends California's wildfire defense programs indefinitely beyond their 2026 expiration date. Requires fire inspectors to complete specialized training in home ignition zone assessments. Establishes a data reporting system to track defensible space compliance across jurisdictions. Creates a volunteer program to help homeowners meet fire safety requirements.

Requires creation of ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of buildings in high-fire-risk areas. Mandates emergency regulations for immediate implementation of new fire safety requirements. Authorizes the State Board of Forestry to maintain emergency regulations until officially revised. Integrates new fire safety rules with state environmental protection requirements.

Allocates 10% of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to support community air quality improvement programs. Provides grants and technical assistance to help disadvantaged communities reduce air pollution. Requires continuous funding for air monitoring, emissions reduction, and community participation initiatives.

Expands oversight of agricultural burning by requiring state agencies to supervise and regulate burning activities. Exempts wildland vegetation management burning from permit requirements when conducted by authorized agencies. Requires development of new safety guidelines and best practices for wildland vegetation management burning.

Extends California's wildfire defense programs for home assessments and education through January 2031. Establishes a statewide reporting system to track property compliance with fire safety requirements. Creates a training program for volunteers to help homeowners meet defensible space requirements. Authorizes qualified entities like conservation corps to conduct fire safety assessments.

Establishes new standards for wildfire prevention projects that protect native wildlife while reducing fire risks. Requires state agencies to prioritize vegetation management projects that use integrated pest management practices. Mandates monitoring plans before, during, and after vegetation treatments to ensure ecological protection. Creates buffer zones around waterways and requires consultation with botanical experts for funded projects.

Expands criteria for high-risk fire zones to include areas with recent major wildfires or urban fire risks. Requires cities to designate burned areas as very high fire hazard zones within 120 days of containment. Mandates annual inspections of properties for defensible space and vegetation management compliance. Authorizes local fire agencies to charge fees for implementing new inspection and enforcement programs.

Establishes a new Community Hardening Commission to develop statewide wildfire safety standards and improve fire insurance access. Requires quarterly meetings starting January 2026 to create home hardening guidelines and community protection measures. Mandates development of a wildfire data sharing platform by July 2027 to track and analyze community-level fire risks. Creates an advisory council of scientists, fire chiefs, and industry experts to guide wildfire mitigation strategies.

Establishes a new home hardening certification program to reduce wildfire risks by January 2027. Requires battery backup systems for automatic garage door openers in wildfire-prone areas. Creates a monthly advisory committee to oversee wildfire safety programs and share best practices. Authorizes state funding for fire safety training and product certification programs.

Expands city authority to permit removal of western Joshua trees for commercial and industrial development projects. Requires cities to conduct annual population assessments and submit quarterly reports on tree removals and relocations. Mandates that relocated trees must be overseen by desert plant specialists following scientific protocols. Sets tiered mitigation fees up to $2,500 per tree based on size and location, with higher rates near protected areas.

Restricts private fire prevention companies from using public water sources without incident command approval. Requires all private fire prevention equipment to be clearly labeled as nonemergency. Prohibits private fire prevention vehicles from using emergency lights or sirens. Bans private fire prevention vehicles from displaying labels suggesting they are emergency responders.

Requires state and county agencies to develop comprehensive wildfire smoke emergency response plans by June 2026. Establishes a task force to research and recommend wildfire smoke mitigation strategies by January 2028. Mandates counties to provide emergency respiratory protection and air purifiers to vulnerable populations. Creates new requirements for public outreach and communication during air quality emergencies.

Establishes a new three-tier accreditation system to recognize communities following wildfire prevention practices. Extends indefinitely the state's defensible space assessment and training programs for fire prevention. Creates a standardized reporting system to track and evaluate wildfire safety compliance data. Requires qualified entities to assess home hardening measures and educate property owners about fire safety.

Expands local agencies' authority to collect development fees early for parkland and recreational facilities. Requires early fees to be identified in the agency's hazard mitigation plan or general plan. Exempts affordable housing projects with 49% low-income units from early fee collection requirements. Allows local agencies to secure unpaid fees through property liens collected like property taxes.

Establishes a new process for local agencies to conduct wildfire prevention while protecting endangered species. Requires agencies to submit wildlife protection plans to Fish and Wildlife for review within 90 days. Mandates creation of critical habitat maps in fire hazard zones by July 2026. Issues 5-year permits to agencies for wildfire preparation activities that minimize harm to protected species.

Requires state agencies to approve timber harvesting plans within 5 working days instead of 60 days. Mandates detailed documentation of equipment, water usage, and environmental impacts in harvesting plans. Establishes faster waste discharge authorizations for approved timber operations.

Authorizes limited take of protected species for State Route 37 transportation improvements in four counties. Requires monitoring programs and adaptive management to minimize impacts on affected species. Mandates public notification and a 30-day comment period before any species take authorization. Applies only to specific highway projects between Sears Point and Mare Island.

Authorizes up to 35 noncommercial wildfire fuel reduction projects annually in California timberlands. Limits eligible projects to less than 1,000 acres and requires partial or full public funding. Streamlines environmental review by allowing simplified timber harvesting plans for approved projects. Creates criminal penalties for violations of the new forestry regulations.

Establishes a new process for local agencies to conduct wildfire prevention activities while protecting endangered species. Exempts fuel reduction projects in fire hazard zones from environmental review requirements. Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to review wildfire plans within 90 days. Mandates 5-year minimum permits for approved wildfire prevention activities.

Establishes a new statewide wildfire risk planning system requiring regular assessments and forecasts by 2027. Requires detailed evaluation of wildfire mitigation actions across state, federal, and local agencies every three years. Mandates annual scenario reports to analyze cost-effectiveness of wildfire prevention strategies. Creates a framework for coordinating wildfire prevention efforts between utilities and government agencies.

Expands California's endangered species protections to include declining and vulnerable species. Authorizes renewable energy projects to impact protected species if they conduct approved research. Establishes a Safe Harbor Program encouraging voluntary landowner conservation without new regulations. Requires financial guarantees from developers to ensure completion of species protection measures.

Extends the state's Wildfire Technology Research Office through January 2033 to advance fire prevention technologies. Makes the wildfire mitigation financial assistance program permanent by removing its 2029 expiration date. Establishes a nine-member advisory board to oversee wildfire technology research and development efforts.

Establishes a state workgroup to study and prevent toxic heavy metal exposure from wildfires. Requires development of safety protocols for first responders and impacted communities by January 2027. Mandates research into environmental cleanup methods including bioremediation techniques. Authorizes partnerships with universities and research institutions to support the workgroup's mission.

Establishes a statewide data platform to track health impacts of wildfire smoke by July 2028. Creates a new fund to support wildfire smoke and health data collection and management. Requires state agencies to develop protocols for tracking air pollution and health impacts from wildfires. Mandates integration of smoke data from federal, state, and local agencies into a unified system.