Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection identified that a
• The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection identified that a
• The Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection identified that a
• The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire consumed more than 38,000 acres of land...
• The bill establishes a fire innovation unit within Cal Fire, which builds upon the department's existing

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard several wildfire- and emergency-related bills. SB 1270 by Senator Richardson would expand the California Wildfire Mitigation Program to more counties and direct future funding toward areas with the greatest wildfire risk and social vulnerability; supporters included CSAC and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. SB 1079 by Senator Stern would create a permanent fire innovation unit within Cal Fire to identify operational needs, test new technologies, and speed deployment of successful tools; it drew support from Megafire Action, fire agencies, and several advocacy groups. SB 1020 by Senator Niello would require annual reporting on open gubernatorial states of emergency, including spending and lessons learned, to increase legislative oversight without limiting emergency powers; the LAO provided technical assistance on the bill. SB 894 by Senator Allen would establish a wildfire resilience loan program modeled on Go Green to help finance home hardening and defensible space improvements, with broad support from state, local, environmental, and credit union interests. Testimony on the bills emphasized wildfire risk, the need for broader home hardening access, and the value of innovation and oversight in emergency management. Supporters of SB 894 said grants alone cannot meet the scale of needed mitigation and that low-cost financing could leverage private capital. Supporters of SB 1079 argued California needs a more formal system to connect firefighters with innovators and scale proven technologies. On SB 1020, the author and committee discussed balancing executive emergency authority with transparency and accountability. There was no recorded opposition to the measures during testimony. After discussion, the committee accepted amendments on the bills and voted to pass SB 894, SB 973, SB 1020, SB 1270, and SB 1079 as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The transcript shows multiple roll calls as quorum was established and absent members were called; each bill ultimately received unanimous support from members present and was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the 50-foot rule promulgated by the fire marshal was promulgated by the fire marshal, and storage
• Significantly more gas fire vehicles.
• how to suppress these fires.
• they do catch fire, the ferocity of the fire makes it very difficult to put out and could cause a lot
• It's when they do catch fire.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I there's no intent to push the fire I there's no intent to push the fire departments<00:19:05.400
• > annual</c> allows the fire departments to do annual allows the fire departments to do annual inspections
• c> sure</c> 10d by the fire department to make sure 10d by the fire department to make sure that<00:19
• </c> place so they can see you know the fire place so they can see you know the fire department<00:21
• fire department each and with the local fire department each and every<00:22:41.960><c> one</c><00:22

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't come from a real heavy fire department background.
• </c><00:36:41.200><c> department</c><00:36:41.680><c> background</c> a real heavy fire department background
• a real heavy fire department background I<00:36:42.440><c> retired</c><00:36:42.839><c> from</c><00:
• /c> I retired from the h Police Department I retired from the h Police Department we<00:36:44.720><c>
• mitigation, prevention, and, of course, our fire response or fire building code issues that we might

Summary: The Committee on Finance held informational briefings first with the Department of Defense on its FY 2026 budget request, then with the Hawaii School Facilities Authority. Major General Steve Logan outlined the Department of Defense request for $40.5 million in state funds, which he said would leverage about $74 million in federal matching funds and support 411 open projects that could attract up to $2.3 billion in additional federal grant money. He said the budget focuses on sustainment, safety, and reorganization in light of lessons from the Maui wildfires. Key requests included $1.3 million to sustain IT systems, $2.7 million for 32 HEMA emergency management positions, three new Hawaii Army National Guard positions plus four upgrades, and $1.9 million for the Youth Challenge Program to cover state-mandated fringe costs and staffing needs. He also reviewed capital improvement projects, including Youth Challenge facility upgrades, siren modernization, ADA improvements, building retrofits for disaster resilience, Army facility upgrades, a third state veterans home on Maui, HEMA EOC improvements, and a maintenance/fuel building at Diamond Head. Members asked about the siren modernization timeline, and HEMA said roughly 26 to 31 sirens would be modernized this year, with 15 on Maui, eight on Oahu, and eight on the Big Island. Questions also focused on Youth Challenge and Job Challenge enrollment and vacancies, with the department saying the Hilo Job Challenge Academy is growing and that combining Youth Challenge recruiting statewide into one Kilauea program has helped enrollment. Logan also answered questions about the New Year’s Eve medical transport mission, explaining the Hawaii Air National Guard’s relationship with active-duty Air Force assets and saying the flight cost is about $20,000 per flight hour, though the final bill had not yet been determined. On the Maui veterans home, staff said the University of Hawaii site was no longer viable after faculty senate opposition, so the department is now focused on a 10-acre Puna District site; the project remains tied to a certified $35 million state match and August 2025 and August 2026 federal suspense dates. Logan said the veterans home remains one of the department’s highest priorities, but it could not be moved higher in the submitted CIP ranking. The department also discussed a Governor’s add-on for a fire marshal/Office of Recovery and Resiliency proposal. Logan said the fire marshal position was reestablished last session but has not yet been filled, and that if the function is transferred to the Department of Defense, the department wants funding ready to move quickly. Staff later said the request would include about $1.1 million for seven positions and about $2.2 million for operating costs, though details were still preliminary. The committee then reconvened for the School Facilities Authority briefing, where Executive Director Ricky Fujitani described the agency as a startup created in 2020 to improve school and workforce housing development through standardized designs, prefabrication, best-value procurement, and public-private partnerships. He said Hawaii’s single school district still functions like 15 different districts because of its 264 schools across 15 complex areas, and that the authority’s goal is to create more efficient, maintainable, and cost-effective facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public safety is fire and law enforcement typically.
• Chair: Jason Brodeur, Bonita Springs Fire Department, waiving in support.
• This is fire, law enforcement and rescue.
• We have our own police department.
• Jason Rode, Bonita Springs Fire Department, waives in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• They get rid of fire very quickly. They average about 10 acres per fire.
• Fire is our biggest fear.
• Again, we're wildland fire; we don't fight structure fires.
• do fire.
• It's all I got for fire protection out there. I'm not even in a fire district.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS services operate under the incident command system, a standardized
• Departments like USC have non-peace officer public safety departments.
• We have the fire department there. We have the university departments there.
• And I know that in the city of Lodi, they do fundraisers for their fire department.
• And with our sister department, California Department of Public Health, so CDPH and EMSA, Sister department

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• Fire inspection is a little harder because it's usually associated with the fire department, but we're
• Fire inspection is a little harder because it's usually associated with the fire department, but we're
• Fire inspection is a little harder because it's usually associated with the fire department, but we're
• Fire inspection is a little harder because it's usually associated with the fire department, but we're
• Fire inspection is a little harder because it's usually associated with the fire department, but we're

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 94, which would prohibit municipal amendments to the state building code and move New Hampshire toward a more uniform statewide code. Senator McConi and several supporters, including the Josiah Barlo Center for Public Policy, the State Fire Marshal, the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, argued that local variations create confusion, raise housing costs, and make compliance harder for builders operating in multiple towns. The Fire Marshal said the goal is a single state building and fire code with only limited administrative amendments at the local level, not technical changes, and noted that municipalities could still seek exceptions through the Building Code Review Board if needed. The chair explained that a similar House bill was already moving forward with fire code and administrative amendment language, and members agreed that retaining SB 94 would avoid conflicting bills. The committee then voted to retain SB 94 by roll call, 13-0, with no minority report. The committee then took up Senate Bill 30, which would designate the Virginia opossum as New Hampshire’s state marsupial. Senator Fenton presented the bill as a light-hearted measure inspired by Chesterfield School fourth graders, who had submitted written testimony and supported the idea. Members discussed the bill in a humorous but mostly supportive way, with one member objecting that it trivialized the legislature, while others said it could help engage students in the legislative process. The committee voted ought to pass on SB 30, 11-2, and agreed to place it on consent with no minority report. Later, the committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 95, concerning youth camp cabins and state fire/building codes. Senator McConi said the bill would exempt new residential cabins in youth recreation camps from sprinkler requirements and allow them to omit electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems, while requiring any such systems that are present to comply with state code. He said the measure was intended to resolve recurring interpretation problems that have caused expense and uncertainty for camp owners, and he praised work with the Fire Marshal’s office to reach a workable compromise. Representative Schmidt asked about cabin sizes and whether larger cabins with multiple occupants would still be safe; the senator explained that camps typically use counselors, drills, and supervision, and that the people behind him could answer more detailed questions. The transcript cuts off before the hearing concludes or any vote is taken on SB 95.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been asking the department to do this for several years.
• district fire department.
• I'm a firefighter with the Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department, and I'm also the president of the
• Fortunately, George was able to recover from his injuries and returned to the Queen Creek Fire Department
• Fire districts are a separate elected entity.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard three bills after announcing that House Bill 2118 would be held. House Bill 2091 would raise the maximum asset-based assessment DIFI can charge domestic insurers to fund financial surveillance staff, with future increases tied to inflation and capped. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the fees had not been updated in 25 years, that Arizona’s insurance regulatory workload has grown substantially, and that the change should help DIFI hire staff, reduce reliance on more expensive contracted work, and not increase premiums. The committee voted 11-0 to give HB 2091 a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2138 would clarify workers’ compensation coverage for professional firefighters injured while traveling to or from work, defining firefighter for that purpose. The sponsor and witnesses from Queen Creek and the fire community said the bill was intended as cleanup language to restore the original legislative intent after a claim was denied because of a statutory loophole, and that the change would protect firefighters and support recruitment and response readiness. The County Supervisors Association said it was neutral but requested counties be removed from the definition because counties do not employ firefighters; a floor amendment was expected to address that. The committee approved HB 2138 11-0. House Bill 2122 made clarifying changes to last year’s reciprocity/endorsement law for registration of BTR-related professions, including reciprocity with the United Kingdom. The sponsor described it as a cleanup bill to fix an omission and support workforce development and commerce, and the only witness offered no additional testimony. The committee passed HB 2122 on an 11-0 vote, and the meeting adjourned after all three bills received due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been asking the department to do this for several years.
• district fire department.
• I'm a firefighter with the Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department, and I'm also the president of the
• Fortunately, George was able to recover from his injuries and returned to the Queen Creek Fire Department
• Fire districts are a separate elected entity.

Bills: HB2091 , HB2118 , HB2122 , HB2138

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, technical registration, engineering, architect, land surveyor, reciprocity, endorsement, qualification standards, firefighter

Transcript Highlights:

• Ahead of the fires in Los Angeles, we all experienced this phenomenon, particularly poignantly, as the
• about access to coverage, both in the wake of the fires as they're rebuilding and also just whether
• I'm a fire survivor.
• I lost our home in the fire.
• Fourteen major fires swept through the region, with the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several insurance-related bills, with SB 1301 by Senator Allen and SB 876 by Senator Padilla receiving the most discussion. SB 1301 would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving policyholders a chance to fix identified issues, and limiting non-renewals based on unreasonable grounds. The bill was supported by consumer advocates, fire survivors, local officials, and several organizations, while insurers said they had worked extensively with the author and were moving to neutral, though they still raised implementation and proprietary-information concerns. The committee voted to pass SB 1301 as amended to Appropriations, with the roll left open briefly before the bill was declared out. SB 876 would overhaul wildfire and disaster claims handling by requiring updated replacement-cost estimates, stronger extended replacement-cost and building-code coverage options, faster status updates when adjusters change, and other consumer protections. Supporters included the Department of Insurance, United Policyholders, consumer groups, and local representatives, who argued the bill addresses underinsurance, delays, and inconsistent claims handling exposed by recent wildfires. Several industry groups said recent amendments resolved major concerns and moved them to neutral, while the California Fair Plan remained respectfully opposed pending further review. The committee approved SB 876 as amended to Judiciary, again leaving the roll open briefly before finalizing the vote. The committee also took up a consent item, SB 536 by Senator Archuleta, which was approved unanimously to Appropriations. Other bills listed at the start of the hearing, SB 555 and SB 795, were pulled at the request of the authors and were not heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• You all have had major fires in your areas, many of you, also many other disasters, whether factory fires
• Obed Franco here on behalf of the California Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire Districts Association
• fire as well.
• Second is federal coordination as well because a lot of these fires are both Cal Fire and the Forest
• Kim had talked about. ...a Fire Innovation Unit, strictly within Cal Fire, and you don't include OES,

Committee: House Emergency Management

Summary: The Assembly Emergency Management Committee heard SB 1079 by Senator Stern, which would establish Cal Fire’s Fire Innovation Unit in statute and allow field testing of new technologies for wildfire and emergency response. The senator and sponsor explained that the goal was to pilot innovative tools before major procurements, and that the bill had been amended back toward its earlier version after concerns about floor changes. Committee members and the sponsor also discussed whether the bill should include Cal OES in addition to Cal Fire, with the senator saying the broader version was intended to support a multi-hazard approach, including evacuation, notifications, and other emergency technologies. A major issue was contracting authority. The chair and committee expressed concern that some language could create no-bid or sole-source contracting authority and had not been fully vetted through the normal policy process. The sponsor acknowledged that if the bill were stripped back to the earlier version, Cal Fire could retain no-bid authority, and offered additional language to require competitive contracting for initial awards while allowing later amendments or follow-on work under limited conditions. The committee also noted procedural concerns about the addition of a new unit and contracting provisions without review by other policy committees. Testimony was in support from the California Fire Chiefs Association, the Fire Districts Association of California, and other supporters. Committee members raised related policy points, including the need to address toxic fires and better federal coordination. The committee then voted due pass as amended and re-refer to the Assembly Floor; the roll was unanimous in favor, and the bill passed out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• and rural sheriff's departments.
• and rural sheriff's departments.
• Mike Wisco: ...The growth of regulated fire departments and added certified firefighters, along with
• Mike Wisco: ...The growth of regulated fire departments and added certified firefighters, along with
• Mike Wisco: ...The growth of regulated fire departments and added certified firefighters, along with

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know for the fire department it requires any employer. The federal law requires it.
• So, Madam Chair... ...you look at just say rearrange your fire department: they come under the fire chief
• The state doesn't know what's best for Artesia Fire Department, Roswell Fire Department, or the Lincoln
• Fire Department.
• department the state doesn't know what's best for Artesian fire department Roswell Fire Department the

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization measure aimed at exempting certain medications and treatments for seriously mentally ill adults from repeat insurance prior authorization, while also extending prior authorization approvals to three years for chronic maintenance drugs. The sponsor described the bill as the latest in a series of bipartisan prior-authorization reforms and accepted an amendment from the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to apply the bill to adults only and to cover PBMs in the interagency purchasing collaborative. Supporters, including NAMI New Mexico and state health officials, argued the bill would reduce barriers to needed care, especially for mental health treatment. Opponents from health plans, PBMs, and insurers warned the bill was too broad, lacked clear definitions for serious mental illness and chronic conditions, created patient-safety concerns, and should have a shorter reauthorization period and later implementation date. After committee discussion, the sponsor agreed to work on a committee substitute, and the bill was rolled over for a later meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 53, the Chispa data privacy bill, which would impose broad limits on the collection, sale, and use of personal data, require opt-in consent for many uses, strengthen rights to access, correct, and delete data, and create enforcement mechanisms including a private right of action. Supporters from advocacy, women’s, behavioral health, reproductive health, and civil rights groups said the bill was needed to protect sensitive health and location data, prevent surveillance and criminalization, and give New Mexicans real control over their information. Business, technology, insurance, and hospital representatives opposed the bill, arguing it was more restrictive than other states’ privacy laws, would burden small businesses and health-related services, create compliance uncertainty, and risk limiting digital services and innovation. After extensive questioning about data breaches, opt-in consent, nonprofit exemptions, and the bill’s impact on businesses and health care access, a motion to table failed 5-4, and the committee then passed SB 53 on a 5-4 vote. The committee next heard Senate Bill 86, which updates the state’s harassment-by-telephone law to cover electronic communications such as social media, messaging apps, and email. The sponsor and a Las Cruces police chief said the change would modernize an outdated 1967 statute and help law enforcement address harassment and domestic violence through current technology. The bill drew support from the governor’s public safety advisor and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and members asked a few clarifying questions about the wording. The committee approved SB 86 unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 96, on regulated childcare zoning requirements, using a committee substitute. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill would reduce confusing zoning and fire-code barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers, helping address a statewide shortage of child care slots and supporting working families. The discussion began with the committee substitute and an explanation that the measure is intended to streamline local requirements and expand child care supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our second goal is enforcement of statewide fire service standards. within paid fire departments.
• departments, private training facilities, or training facilities that are associated with paid fire.
• Currently, right now, there are 1,778 fire departments across the state. It is regulated by TCFP.
• Our county has 13 volunteer fire departments, although we assist them with funding.
• departments, who are first on the scene with these fires, wildfires that.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Much like current fire departments, water districts were not designed to adequately support fire suppression
• , and Fire Districts Association of California in support.
• , and Fire Districts Association of California in support.
• And there's a difference between water you can throw on a fire and water that's potable.
• , fires that start at these facilities.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fully equipped Pechanga Fire Department is an active participant in the State of California master
• And also, I forget the name of the other fire. There were two fires in the region.
• In addition to that, though, I want to point out that our fire department personnel, Pechanga Fire Department
• Department.
• as county fire.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization held an informational hearing on seven tribal-state gaming compacts and amendments, with Chair Blanca Rubio noting that no formal vote would be taken because the Legislature cannot amend the compacts. The committee heard briefings from the Governor’s Office and tribal representatives on the Pechanga Band of Indians, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and the Urok Tribe. A recurring theme was updating compact terms in light of the Ninth Circuit’s Chicken Ranch decision, including narrowing or clarifying revenue-sharing, regulatory, labor, and liability provisions while preserving state and tribal interests. For the Pechanga, Agua Caliente, and Yocha Dehe amendments, witnesses described commitments not to sue over certain revenue terms, additional gaming-device flexibility, and continued or enhanced payments to the special distribution fund, revenue-sharing trust fund, and tribal nation grant fund. Pechanga and Yocha Dehe each sought flexibility for 1,000 additional devices, while Agua Caliente sought 500 additional devices and a restructuring of its trust-fund contributions. Tribal leaders emphasized economic development, government services, public safety, education, cultural preservation, and community investments, and local government representatives from San Bernardino County and other jurisdictions spoke in support of the agreements. The committee also heard two new compacts: Fort Mojave’s compact, which replaces an expired 2004 agreement and allows up to 1,200 devices at up to two facilities, including a future site near Needles subject to federal approval and gubernatorial concurrence; and the Urok Tribe’s compact, which replaces an expiring 1999 compact and allows up to 349 devices at up to three facilities. The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians sought a fifth amendment extending its existing compact while litigation continues, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians sought a second amendment extending its compact term and refining liability and insurance provisions. After hearing testimony and brief public comment, the chair closed the hearing and indicated the measures would move to the floor for formal consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:38:43.840><c> department</c> to me that why wasn't fire department to me that why wasn't fire
• department, so there's a conflict there. >> Still, they have authority over the fire department.
• >> Head of the town's police or fire department? >> A fire ward is not a fire chief. >> Right.
• </c> So the firewards oversee the fire So the firewards oversee the fire department. department. department
• </c> authority over the fire department. authority over the fire department.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• White Earth Nation has two ambulance services and two fire departments.
• White Earth Police Department only dispatches White Earth ambulance, and the counties dispatch both fire
• White Earth Nation has two ambulance services and two fire departments.
• White Earth Police Department only dispatches White Earth ambulance, and the counties dispatch both fire
• ambulance</c> fire departments and the ambulance fire departments and the ambulance service.<02:36:46.960

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Fire and floods highlight this need.
• The Santa Fe Community Services Department, um, sorry.
• I know this is talking about the Department of Health, but how does this affect all the other departments
• So, the fire in Rio Doce was man-caused; somebody started that fire.
• , and to such who start the fire, when those fires or those events happen, they They reach higher degrees

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs