California Assembly Republican Caucus
A Fire Safe California
For decades, California has faced forest management challenges, with limited progress on implementing projects to thin overgrown forests that fuel wildfires..
Wildfire Prevention
Improve Fire Safety Egress.
David Tangipa
Creates a pilot program to exempt fire safety egress route projects from CEQA in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.
Water Infrastructure and Wildfire Prevention.
Alexandra Macedo
Redirects money from High-Speed Rail to pay for upgrades to water infrastructure and wildfire prevention.
Streamline CEQA for Water Projects.
Alexandra Macedo
Provides expedited CEQA review for water storage projects, water conveyance projects, and groundwater recharge projects.
Increase Penalties for Aggravated Arson.
Heather Hadwick
Creates a sentence enhancement for aggravated arson if a wildfire destroys more than 500 acres.
Fire hazard severity zones: State Fire Marshal.
Tom Lackey
Fire Marshall Update Fire Hazard Zones Every 5 Years.
Increase Penalties for Recklessly Burning Forest Land.
Greg Wallis
Removes the misdemeanor option applicable to a person who recklessly causes a fire of a structure or forest land and instead provides that this offense is a felony.
Provide Tax Relief for Home Hardening.
Greg Wallis
Creates an income tax credit covering 40% of the costs for older homeowners in wildfire-prone areas to help them “harden” their homes.
Maintain Funding for Wildfire Prevention.
Heather Hadwick
Prevents termination of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP), which provides financial assistance for working families to fortify their homes against wildfires.
Exempt Roadside Wildfire Prevention Projects from CEQA.
Heather Hadwick
Expands an existing CEQA exemption for prescribed fire, thinning or fuel reduction projects to protect communities with only one fire evacuation route.
Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Jeff Gonzalez
Requires the California Air Resources Board to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildlands and forest fires in the Scoping Plan. Creates parity with all other emissions sources tracked and recorded by CARB in the Scoping Plan.
Reduces Red Tape for Fuel Reduction Projects and Fuel Modification Projects.
Diane Dixon
Exempts fuel treatment projects from Coastal Commission permitting mandates.
Allow Homeowners to Quickly Remove Trees that Pose Fire Risk.
Josh Hoover
This bill waives any state and local laws, ordinances, fees, and fines associated with the removal of a homeowner’s tree that their insurance has identified as a fire risk.
Provide Tax Relief for Home Hardening.
Greg Wallis
Creates an income tax credit covering 40% of the costs for older homeowners in wildfire-prone areas to help them “harden” their homes.
CEQA Exemption for Timberlands Fuels Reduction.
Joe Patterson
Authorizes projects exclusively for noncommercial wildfire fuels reduction in timberland, paid for in part or in whole with public funds, to prepare a timber harvesting plan as an alternative to complying with CEQA, and would require these projects to be regulated as timber operations.
Wildfire Response
Increase Penalties for Looting.
Josh Hoover
Makes it a felony to commit burglary or grand theft in an area where there has been a declared state of emergency, local emergency, or which is under an evacuation order. Increases the penalty from a misdemeanor to an alternate felony/misdemeanor (“wobbler”) for committing petty…
Faster OES Response Times.
Heather Hadwick
Allows local Office of Emergency Services vehicles to be authorized emergency vehicles and drive Code 3 (using lights & sirens) to expedite evacuations and provide immediate assistance.
Increase Penalties for Drones Near Fires.
Alexandra Macedo
Makes it a felony to fly a drone that interferes with law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, or other first responders at the scene of an emergency.
Wildfire Recovery
Prioritize Aid to Vulnerable Communities.
James Gallagher
Allows the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to prioritize funding and assistance to communities heavily impacted by disasters/emergencies.
Tax Relief for Wildfire Survivors.
Heather Hadwick
Exempts wildfire payments from income tax and allows victims of the 2021 Dixie Fire, the 2022 Mill Fire, and the 2024 Park Fire to receive the full payments they are owed.
Increase Aid to Local Communities.
Diane Dixon
Creates a grant program to provide financial assistance for disaster costs when federal assistance is not available.
Suspend Solar Mandate when Rebuilding Damaged Homes.
David Tangipa
Permits the temporary suspension of solar requirements when rebuilding homes that were damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster.
Support Nonprofits Providing Essential Services.
Alexandra Macedo
Improves nonprofits’ ability to provide services during emergencies.
Exempts Power Generator Purchases During Declared State of Emergency.
Leticia Castillo
Permit the sale of generators banned by CARB during a declared state of emergency, as well as create an income tax write-off for generator purchases all year round.