An act to add Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 4159) to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to fire protection.
AB 252 would require the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to maintain year-round staffing at all fire stations and facilities under its jurisdiction at no less than the highest staffing level the department reached in any single month between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024. The bill sets a target date of January 1, 2028, for reaching full staffing levels year-round, and it directs the department to phase in the increase by reaching 50% of the required increase by January 1, 2026, and 75% by January 1, 2027.
The bill also requires CAL FIRE to employ enough permanent firefighting personnel to meet those staffing levels and to submit annual reports to the Legislature on implementation progress, emergency response impacts, costs, budget needs, and recruitment and retention metrics. The measure states that the Legislature must appropriate sufficient funds in the Budget Act or another statute to carry out these requirements, and it includes findings that climate change has made wildfire risk a year-round issue and that reduced winter staffing is no longer adequate.
In terms of state law, AB 252 would add a new article to the Public Resources Code governing CAL FIRE staffing and would create a statutory mandate for year-round staffing levels. It would affect CAL FIRE operations, staffing practices, and budget planning, while also creating a legislative reporting requirement and tying implementation to future appropriations. The bill is framed as a wildfire protection and public safety measure, with the stated intent of preventing layoffs and ensuring continuous firefighting readiness.
The general sentiment around the bill appears favorable. The bill passed the Assembly committee vote 14-0, indicating broad support at that stage, and its findings reflect a strong policy argument that California’s fire conditions now require permanent year-round staffing. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggests the measure was not especially controversial in committee, at least procedurally.
The main point of contention is likely fiscal and operational: the bill would require significant additional staffing and permanent personnel, and it explicitly acknowledges the need for future appropriations to fund the mandate. Related concerns include whether CAL FIRE can recruit and retain enough personnel to meet the schedule, how much the staffing increase will cost, and how the department will implement the transition without disrupting existing operations. Those issues are highlighted in the required annual reporting on costs, staffing progress, and emergency response impacts.
AB 252 would amend the Public Resources Code by adding a new CAL FIRE staffing article that legally requires year-round staffing at the department’s fire stations and facilities. It would establish a phased implementation schedule, mandate annual legislative reporting, and create a statutory expectation that the state fund the staffing increase through the Budget Act or other legislation. The bill would directly affect CAL FIRE, the Legislature’s budget process, and state wildfire preparedness policy.
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, with a 14-0 committee vote to do pass and re-refer. The bill’s framing around climate-driven year-round wildfire risk and public safety likely contributes to its favorable reception. No committee transcript opposition is provided, so the overall sentiment in the materials is positive and largely aligned around improving wildfire readiness.
The primary areas of concern are cost, staffing feasibility, and implementation. Because the bill requires CAL FIRE to maintain full staffing year-round and to employ enough permanent personnel to do so, questions may arise about the fiscal impact, recruitment and retention challenges, and whether the department can meet the 2026, 2027, and 2028 milestones. The bill itself anticipates these issues by requiring annual reports on costs, budgetary requirements, and workforce metrics, and by stating that the Legislature must appropriate sufficient funds.