Transcript Highlights:

• Wildfires in California have grown in size, duration, and destructive power.
• El Dorado and Placer counties, which I represent, are the home to too many wildfires.
• Placer County Water Agency manages natural resources.
• In 2020, our community faced a devastating wildfire known as the Creek Fire.
• and a lot of really devastating wildfires this last year.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of natural resources and related bills, with several measures taken up as the committee reached quorum and many others moving on consent or with due-pass recommendations. Early items included AB 80 on carpet recycling, AB 452 creating a local process for state surf reserves, and AB 823 restricting microplastics in personal care and cleaning products. AB 80 drew broad support from recycling, labor, and environmental groups and was described as a follow-up to earlier carpet recycling reforms. AB 452 was backed by surf, tourism, environmental, and local government interests as a voluntary, community-driven way to recognize and protect surf breaks. AB 823 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters citing public health and environmental harms from microplastics and opponents warning the bill’s language could sweep in products such as sunscreens, cosmetics, and fragrance-encapsulation materials; the committee discussed possible ambiguity and EU comparisons before voting the bill out on a due-pass-as-amended basis to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. The committee also advanced AB 1046, which would create a narrow exemption from SB 1383 organic-waste requirements for certain crop preparers and tree nut processors that do not send organic waste to landfills. Agricultural witnesses said the bill would clarify that their operations already reuse byproducts and should not face duplicative reporting, and the measure passed with support from agricultural and rural county representatives. AB 252, the “Stop Laying Off Firefighters Act,” proposed year-round Cal Fire staffing; the author and Cal Fire supporters argued that wildfire conditions are now year-round and that maintaining trained crews would improve response and prevention, and the bill was sent to Appropriations. AB 571, a targeted CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Anaheim, drew strong bipartisan and veterans’ support and also passed out. Later, the committee approved AB 1455, which would authorize emergency rulemaking and streamline future updates for ember-resistant building regulations after recent wildfire emergencies, and AB 687, which would let public agencies use forest-practice rules and timber-harvest plans for certain publicly funded fuel-reduction projects; AB 687 drew some opposition over scope and enforceability concerns but was still advanced. The committee also moved AB 652, allowing alternate members on the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District board to prevent quorum problems, and AB 317, a first-time homebuyer housing bill that would exempt certain small, lower-cost homes from CEQA and defer some property taxes; AB 317 prompted discussion about guardrails to avoid unintended use on larger subdivisions. Finally, AB 900, requiring the Natural Resources Agency to develop a stewardship plan for 30-by-30 lands, was heard with broad support from land trusts and conservation groups and advanced on a due-pass recommendation, and AB 738, a wildfire-rebuild bill easing solar requirements for certain disaster survivors, was introduced and discussed with questions about its narrow scope and the number of homes affected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wildfires in California have grown in size, duration, and destructive power.
• Placer County Water Agency manages natural resources.
• In 2020, our community faced a devastating wildfire known as the Creek Fire.
• I saw firsthand the impact. ...wildfire known as the Creek Fire.
• and a lot of really devastating wildfires this last year.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of natural resources and related bills, with several measures receiving broad support and due-pass recommendations. AB 80 on carpet recycling would require CalRecycle to implement prior reforms, expand collection sites, and improve reporting and backstamping; it drew support from the author, carpet industry representatives, labor, environmental groups, and no opposition. AB 452 would create a voluntary process for local governments to designate state surf reserves as part of 30 by 30 conservation goals; supporters included Save the Waves Coalition, tourism and environmental groups, and several members praised the bill, while the League of California Cities sought clarifying amendments. AB 823 would ban sale of certain personal care and cleaning products containing intentionally added plastic microbeads, but it generated significant debate over scope and ambiguity, with environmental groups supporting stronger restrictions and industry groups warning the bill could unintentionally affect sunscreens, cosmetics, fragrance encapsulation, and other products; the committee ultimately passed it 13-2 to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials as amended. The committee also advanced AB 1046, which creates a narrow exemption from SB 1383 organic waste requirements for crop preparers and tree nut processors that do not send organic waste to landfills; agricultural groups and rural county representatives supported it, and it passed with no opposition. AB 252, the “Stop Laying Off Firefighters Act,” would require Cal Fire to maintain year-round staffing; the author and Cal Fire labor representatives argued wildfire conditions are now year-round and staffing gaps are unsafe, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. AB 571 would provide a targeted CEQA exemption and urgency clause for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon; veterans, county officials, and supporters emphasized the long delay and need for a dignified burial site, and it passed unanimously to Military and Veterans Affairs. Later, the committee approved AB 1455, which would authorize the Board of Forestry to adopt emergency regulations and streamline future rulemaking for ember-resistant standards after recent Los Angeles County fires; it passed without opposition. AB 687, which would allow public agencies to use forest practice rules and timber harvest plans for certain fuel reduction projects, drew concerns from environmental groups about CEQA confusion and agency review, and while the author said it was not a CEQA exemption, the bill moved forward with some opposition and ongoing discussion. AB 652 would allow alternate members on the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District board to avoid quorum problems and passed with support from the City of San Diego. AB 317, the California First-Time Home Owner Dream Act, would exempt certain small, lower-cost homes from CEQA and defer property taxes to encourage affordable housing; it passed with support but also prompted concerns about guardrails against misuse in larger subdivisions. The committee also heard AB 900, which would require the Natural Resources Agency to develop a stewardship plan for current and future 30 by 30 lands; supporters from land trusts and conservation groups said stewardship funding and management are essential to make conservation durable, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 738 would let certain wildfire-disaster survivors rebuild under the solar standards in place when their homes were originally built, rather than newer requirements; the author and county representatives framed it as limited relief for underinsured homeowners, and the committee began discussion with questions about what other rebuilding requirements might be affected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Committee on Emergency Management.
• I'm Assemblymember Welcome to the Committee on Emergency Management.
• wildfire damages.
• I'm the general manager of the Placer County Water Agency.
• 1153, ...is a member of several incident response teams during wildfires.

Summary: The Committee on Emergency Management heard several bills related to public safety, wildfire preparedness, and fireworks regulation. SB 1299, by Senator Arreguín, would place in statute a certification and training framework for fire sprinkler fitters and apprentices after a court decision disrupted prior State Fire Marshal regulations. Supporters said the bill would protect life safety by ensuring qualified installation and maintenance of fire suppression systems, while opponents raised concerns about added costs, housing affordability, and labor-related effects. The committee passed the bill as amended to the Committee on Labor and Employment on a roll call vote, with DeMaio and Hadwick voting no. SB 1153, by Senator Caballero, would require urban retail water suppliers to incorporate wildfire-specific procedures into emergency plans and clarify that water systems are not designed to serve as wildfire defense systems. Supporters from water agencies and fire organizations said the bill would improve coordination, planning, and ratepayer protection while acknowledging infrastructure limits. Members discussed transparency, backup generators, and whether the bill should require more public disclosure; the author said he would continue working on possible amendments. The committee passed the bill as amended to the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. SB 828, by Senator Cabaldon, responds to the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion by requiring fireworks licensees to disclose storage locations, verify local permits, and meet other compliance conditions. The author said the bill was developed with the State Fire Marshal and local public safety partners to close information gaps and improve enforcement. An opposition witness argued the permit-verification requirements could not be met in all jurisdictions, especially for hobby rocketry and small-scale uses, prompting discussion about clarifying different rocket categories and administrative implementation. The committee passed SB 828 as amended to the Committee on Local Government, and the meeting then adjourned after all bills were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, right now, there are regional meetings that happen every year to coordinate pre-season wildfire management
• So, the legislature should consider whether wildfire mitigation management, whether wildfire mitigation
• The group was torn, I guess, on the state wildfire compensation fund, or the concept of a state wildfire
• That our infrastructure poses with regards to wildfire, and that's through either wildfire mitigation
• But wildfires still happen.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• With regard to wildfire risk scores and risk classifications, wildfire risk models, catastrophe models
• Wildfire is becoming more and more prevalent.
• That's deeply impacted by wildfire insurance issues.
• the wildfire risk scores used by the insurance companies.
• Wildfire scores help us do that. They're not punitive.

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee first held a work session on protecting children online. Testimony focused on a proposed Kids Online Protection Act that would limit addictive algorithmic feeds for minors and restrict push notifications during school hours and at night. Supporters included a former tech executive, a Meta whistleblower, and a psychology researcher, who argued that social media design exploits adolescent development, harms well-being, and that the bill gives parents and children more control without banning access to content. Industry and trade group witnesses opposed the approach, arguing it would violate the First Amendment, create privacy risks through age verification, and could reduce useful personalization and safety tools; they said companies are already implementing teen protections and parental controls. The committee did not take a vote during the work session. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5928, sponsored by Senators Warnick and Short at the request of the Insurance Commissioner. The bill would require property insurers using wildfire risk scores or models to disclose more information to consumers, explain adverse factors, provide appeal and rescoring processes, and account for mitigation actions in rate filings and discounts. The Office of Insurance Commissioner, a Colville Tribal representative, fire district testimony, climate advocates, realtors, hospitality businesses, and insurance agents generally supported the bill as a transparency and consumer-protection measure, with some urging inclusion of commercial lines and stronger recognition of local fire mitigation. Several insurance trade groups opposed or were neutral, warning that the bill goes too far, could expose proprietary underwriting information, increase regulation and costs, and should be narrowed to align with other states’ approaches. No vote was taken, and the chair adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of our local emergency managers are not just the emergency manager; they're the fire chief, they
• Many of our local emergency managers, they're not just the emergency manager.
• MNERD also played a critical role in wildfire response.
• Slide five: Energy Conservation and Management Division.
• The LFC recommendation did not include funding for the wildfire preparedness program and the wildfire

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• TNC believes in regionally appropriate wildfire solutions.
• Both California Earthquake Authority's SB 254 wildfire study and the new draft of the California wildfire
• So SB 1370 will essentially function as wildfire, like literally textbook wildfire maladaptation.
• So SB 1370 will essentially function as wildfire, like literally textbook wildfire maladaptation. will
• essentially function as wildfire, like literally textbook wildfire maladaptation.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• through active forest management. wildfires.
• We manage wildfires and conduct prescribed burns every year to protect our forests and communities.
• We manage wildfires and conduct prescribed burns every year to protect our forests and communities.
• We manage wildfires and conduct prescribed burns every year to protect our forests and communities.
• </c><04:06:26.800><c> and</c><04:06:27.040><c> wildfire</c> better forest management and wildfire better

Transcript Highlights:

• For wildfire cost recovery, we typically review wildfire spending for reasonableness, evaluate compliance
• Other things besides wildfire you think that justify that? Wildfire is the key driver.
• And I think that they're very focused on the wildfire fund and the continuation of the wildfire fund,
• We set up trusts and wildfire funds. And when that dries up, we set up SB 254. Wildfire funds.
• Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition and wildfire victims across California stand ready with detailed

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• However, they manage Fires.
• We put in for a fire management assistance grant.
• are managed, but how do we manage post-fire debris?
• And again, I mentioned the incident management team.
• Those are still in the work, and we're managing those.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And thanks, Senator, for wading into the whole wildfire scene.”
• Wildfire smoke is becoming a public health crisis, and because wildfires do not respect borders, and
• Wildfire season in Washington is no longer theoretical.
• , and decades of minimal forest management on federal lands.
• Petridge, budget manager for the Department of Health.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard several Senate bills and a joint memorial, with the chair moving items around to accommodate prime sponsors and public testimony. SB 5838 would add two tribal representatives to the Board of Natural Resources, one from each side of the Cascades, and broaden the nomination pool to include tribes with treaty-ceded lands in Washington. The sponsor and tribal and agency witnesses said the bill would add tribal knowledge and stewardship expertise without changing government-to-government consultation. County and industry witnesses raised concerns about fiduciary duties to trust beneficiaries, the lack of stakeholder consultation, and the effect of expanding the board from one to two tribal seats. Public testimony was mixed, and the committee recorded strong support and opposition on the bill. SB 5816 would add juice grapes to the state Agricultural Marketing and Fair Practices Act, allowing juice grape producers to use the same marketing and negotiation framework already available to pears, sweet corn, and potatoes. The sponsor said the bill would help juice grape growers facing unfair pricing pressure from processors. The committee took limited public testimony and recorded support and opposition before closing the hearing. SJM 8015 urged Congress to ensure federal wildfire response entities remain capable of protecting communities, infrastructure, watersheds, and firefighter health and safety during federal consolidation of wildfire programs. Testimony from environmental groups, forest industry, and union representatives broadly supported the memorial and emphasized rising wildfire risk, smoke impacts, and the need for strong interagency response capacity. The committee also heard HB 2737, which would cap certain shellfish regulatory fees, exempt the shellfish program from full fee recovery, and apply the caps retroactively. The sponsor and shellfish growers said the Department of Health’s fee increases would be unsustainable for small family farms and processors, while DOH explained it was following a full cost-recovery model unless the Legislature provides general fund support. Witnesses described large projected fee increases and potential business closures, and DOH said it had reopened rulemaking to consider smaller operators. Because the bill was heard after cutoff, the chair noted it could not advance, but the committee still took testimony and discussed possible amendments and follow-up information before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The disaster management cycle is an analytical framework that is commonly used by disaster management
• We've had a lot of wildfires in California, but no two are alike.
• Fire management assistance grants were mentioned.
• But terminology also, wildfire versus urban.
• We were asked to provide an update on the management at Cal OES.

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Management Association.
• regions approach wildfire management.
• </c><01:20:36.000><c> During</c> approach wildfire management. During approach wildfire management.
• </c> highest wildfire occurrence in Kentucky. highest wildfire occurrence in Kentucky.
• </c> departments for wildfire uh conditions. departments for wildfire uh conditions.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the August meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Dr. Jerry Brosky of the Kentucky Mesonet and Kentucky Climate Center. He described the Mesonet’s statewide weather network, now with 84 stations in 78 counties, real-time data used by the National Weather Service, mobile apps, and more than a billion observations. He said recent legislative funding has allowed upgrades such as soil temperature and moisture sensors, cameras at every site, and improved communications and power systems, and has enabled expansion into new counties. He also highlighted products used for flooding, drought, and heat safety, including a wet bulb globe temperature tool being developed with the Department of Public Health. In response to questions, he said counties interested in a station should contact his center, that a station typically costs about $50,000, and that the program is already considering a second Pike County site. The committee then heard from Ryan Drain of Blue Skies and Chris McGee of the American Red Cross on long-term disaster recovery and a software platform called Darcy, short for Disaster Aware and Ready Communities Initiative. McGee explained the Red Cross’s long-term recovery work, including support for recovery groups, direct financial assistance, grantmaking, and coordination with local and federal partners. He emphasized that disasters are occurring more frequently and with repeated impacts, and shared examples from Kentucky and other states showing the need for organized recovery and storm shelter support. Drain said Darcy was developed after the 2021 Mayfield-Graves tornado recovery to replace fragmented spreadsheets and PDFs with a centralized, survivor-led system for preparedness, response, and recovery, designed to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and shorten recovery time. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 429 would establish the Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Program.
• To reach the goal of improving wildfire safety, the California wildfire public model unites two critical
• Wildfire farm models can be critical to building a safer community.
• Our park managers live in the parks. Many of them have been there.
• Our park managers live in the parks.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several bills related to insurance coverage, wildfire risk, workers’ compensation, and paid family leave. SB 8 by Senator Ashby would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers, with testimony emphasizing that they perform law-enforcement-like duties and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. SB 429 by Senator Cortese would create a public wildfire catastrophe model and related wildfire safety program, with support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates who said public access to modeling data would improve transparency and help evaluate private insurance risk models. The committee also heard SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the FAIR Plan to offer coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, including replacement cost coverage. Supporters said the bill would help lower-income residents obtain meaningful insurance protection, while no opposition testified. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger contents-coverage advance after a total loss during a declared emergency without requiring an immediate itemized inventory, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to provide catastrophe modeling and reinsurance data to the Department of Insurance. Several insurers withdrew opposition after amendments, and the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the measure. SB 590 by Senator Durazo would expand paid family leave to cover care for designated persons or chosen family members, with strong support from AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and health organizations, and testimony from a parent describing the need to care for a non-legal family member during surgery recovery. The committee also took up consent items SB 230 and SB 854. After roll calls, SB 8, SB 429, SB 495, SB 525, and SB 590 all received do-pass votes, with SB 429 sent to the Committee on Emergency Management, SB 495 to Judiciary, and SB 525 and SB 590 to Appropriations. The consent calendar bills were also approved, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is led by Managing Director Kirk Esmond.
• This is on the wildfire mitigation group, which was a statewide work group that worked together on wildfire
• So the first one is wildfire property mitigation standards.
• We have DNR's Wildfire Ready Neighbors.
• These jobs will go away: customer service jobs, warehousing jobs, management, centralized management

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee met for its first session under the committee’s new name and heard a work session on Washington’s economic development policy from the Department of Commerce. Commerce described its Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, including small business finance, export assistance, business attraction, and sector development work, and emphasized the need for a statewide economic development strategic plan with regular review, stakeholder input, and attention to rural and regional needs. Members asked about foreign trade offices, federal funding uncertainty, tax competitiveness, workforce programs, and the role of the Keep Washington Working program. Commerce said the state’s trade and investment efforts are valuable but face funding challenges, and that Washington must compete on more than taxes, including its business ecosystem and workforce. The committee then heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5919, which would encourage fire districts and insurers to develop voluntary incentives for wildfire mitigation best practices related to agricultural activities. The sponsor described the bill as a way to reward farmers for practices such as defensible space, fire breaks, equipment storage, and avoiding high-risk work during red flag conditions. A fire chief testified in support, citing recent standing grain fires and the need for practical incentives in rural areas. The bill was described as having no appropriation and no requested fiscal note. Members also heard testimony on Washington in the Making 2040 from the Association of Washington Business and a business owner. Supporters said the 16-year economic vision plan was built from broad public engagement and focuses on workforce, business climate, infrastructure, housing, and community. They argued Washington needs more housing, a more competitive regulatory and tax environment, and reliable energy to support growth. Senators questioned how the plan would achieve its housing goals and what specific regulatory changes were needed; AWB said it would provide a regulatory study soon. The committee also received a wildfire mitigation work group update from the Office of Insurance Commissioner, which recommended stronger community mitigation, better data sharing, consumer transparency, and a possible grant program for home hardening, though it did not reach full consensus on a single property mitigation standard. Finally, the committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5871, which would prohibit assignment of benefits in property and casualty insurance and set new rules for motor vehicle glass repair claims, including ADAS-related disclosures and limits on steering and inducements. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Insurance Commissioner, Safelite, NAMIC, and the Northwest Insurance Council, said the bill would reduce auto glass fraud, improve transparency, and help stabilize premiums. Independent glass shop owners and the Independent Glass Association opposed the bill as written, arguing it would favor large vertically integrated companies, restrict small businesses, and fail to address insurer steering and conflicts of interest. Several witnesses requested technical amendments, and the committee took no final vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also a long list of partners like Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, etc.
• We, our big nexus to understanding this was HWMO, the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.
• </c><01:15:38.000><c> management</c><01:15:38.400><c> organization</c> Hawaii wildfire management organization
• </c><01:18:02.640><c> management</c> was HWMO the the wildfire management was HWMO the the wildfire management
• </c><01:22:18.239><c> Management</c> mentioned, um Hoy Wildfire Management mentioned, um Hoy Wildfire

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management on its hazard mitigation plan and recent emergency events on Oahu. Chair Dela Botti opened the meeting by explaining that the briefing was intended to review the mitigation planning process, the city’s hazard mitigation plan, and lessons learned from recent tsunami and wildfire threats, building on earlier briefings with state emergency management and transportation officials. Director Collins and hazard mitigation staff officer Ian Kio presented the plan, describing it as a five-year FEMA-required document focused on reducing long-term risk to people and property, not an operations plan for active disasters. Kio outlined how the plan was developed over roughly 18 months with a core team, steering committee, consultant support, and public input, and said it was formally adopted by the mayor’s office and approved by FEMA in July 2025. He said the updated plan was aligned more closely with the state hazard mitigation plan, expanded to cover 15 hazards including climate change and sea level rise, and organized around hazard risk rankings and mitigation strategies. He identified the highest-risk hazards as climate change and sea level rise, floods, health risks, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires, and said the plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions such as education, Firewise community planning, flood mapping, and major infrastructure projects like tsunami walls and street elevation work. He also emphasized that the plan will be maintained with yearly updates and ongoing public feedback. Collins then discussed after-action findings from the July 6 Meli fire and the recent tsunami response, noting that reviews are still ongoing. He said the fire response showed strong initiative and teamwork, including police officers helping with fire suppression support and door-to-door evacuation efforts before firefighters arrived, and a staff duty officer who initiated a wireless emergency alert without waiting for higher-level direction. He said these actions reflected a culture of rapid decision-making when lives are at stake. Collins also urged residents to prepare by making family plans, gathering supplies, checking flood and tsunami risk maps, retrofitting homes, and obtaining insurance before disasters occur. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• To reach the goal of improving wildfire safety, the California wildfire public model unites two critical
• Wildfire risk models can be critical to building a safer community.
• At present, all wildfire catastrophe models are proprietary, closed to public scrutiny.
• Our park managers live in the parks. Many of them have been there...
• Our park managers live in the parks.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several insurance-related bills, beginning with SB 8 by Senator Ashby, which would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers. Ashby and Sacramento County’s chief ranger argued the rangers perform law-enforcement-like duties, face violent encounters, and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. The bill was later approved on the floor with members noting it had been narrowed from a prior version. The committee also heard SB 429 by Senator Cortese, proposing the nation’s first public wildfire catastrophe model. Supporters from the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders said a public model would improve transparency, help evaluate private catastrophe models, and support wildfire mitigation and fairer insurance regulation. The committee advanced the bill to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger inventory-free contents payment after a total loss in a declared emergency, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to share catastrophe modeling data with the department. After testimony from the Department of Insurance, consumer advocates, and insurers who withdrew opposition, the bill passed unanimously to Judiciary. The committee also approved SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the Fair Plan to offer certain coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, with supporters emphasizing the difficulty lower-income residents face in finding coverage and the need for replacement-cost protection. SB 590 by Senator Durazo, backed by a large coalition including AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and LGBTQ organizations, would expand paid family leave to cover chosen and extended family caregivers. The committee heard no opposition to SB 590 and sent it to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including SB 230 and SB 854, was also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, wildfire risk disclosure to policyholders, and second, wildfire risk model disclosure as part
• is adversely impacted by the wildfire risk score.
• protection and if their homes were damaged by wildfire.
• It had a very broad, I think it was wildfire mitigation grant—yeah, wildfire mitigation grant—which is
• It had a very broad, I think it was wildfire mitigation, yeah, wildfire mitigation grant, which is very

Bills: SB6178 , SB5831

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergency management leadership, representing California's Standardized Emergency Management System,
• And Dave Meyers is here as that manager.
• The Standardized Emergency Management System is the formal structure that provides emergency managers
• So I say this in every comment regarding the L.A. wildfires.
• survivors." "2015 to 2018 PG&E wildfire survivors.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s emergency alert and warning systems, especially in light of recent Southern California wildfires and the January 9 evacuation alert that was mistakenly sent to millions of residents. Opening remarks emphasized the loss of life, the strain on first responders, the importance of timely warnings, and concerns that public trust in alerts has been undermined by delays, confusion, and over-alerting. Members repeatedly raised questions about how to improve speed, accuracy, coordination across jurisdictions, and public understanding of the difference between evacuation warnings and orders. Cal OES staff described the state’s alert and warning framework, including SEMS, the State Warning Center, IPAWS, WEA, and EAS, and said local governments retain primary responsibility for issuing alerts because they know local roads, shelters, and hazards best. They said Cal OES supports local agencies with training, technical assistance, testing, and backup alerting help when requested, and that local alerting authorities must test their systems every 30 days and complete FEMA-required training. Members pressed Cal OES on gaps in smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions, the lack of a statewide unified system, compliance monitoring, redundancy for people without reliable technology, and whether the state should take a more active role. Cal OES said it could assist smaller jurisdictions and step in during emergencies, but that a statewide system would require further analysis and funding. Sheriff Eric Taylor of San Benito County emphasized that local control is essential because counties differ widely in structure, geography, and alerting responsibilities, and he described the challenges of rural areas, limited cell coverage, and multiple platforms such as Nixle, Reverse 911, and social media. Nick Russell of Watch Duty said the nonprofit fills gaps by providing fast, geospatially detailed wildfire information from volunteers and public data, and argued that context and redundancy are critical because official alerts often arrive too late or lack enough detail. Members praised Watch Duty’s usefulness and asked about incorporating similar capabilities into state systems. Public commenters also raised the need for broader redundancy, including earthquake-warning partnerships, and wildfire survivors urged the committee to address the confusing patchwork of alerts and to honor prior compensation commitments to PG&E fire survivors. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only and adjourned after member questions and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and mitigating wildfire risk.
• As we all know, California's wildfire crisis is intensifying.
• And in the same way that the wildfire crisis is a statewide crisis, we also need to ensure that our wildfire
• also demonstrate large wildfire risk.
• So Sierra Business Council strongly supports the California wildfire resilience and forest management

Committee: House Natural Resources