Senate Emergency Management Committee

21 April 2026

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Senate Emergency Management Committee Mon, 20 Apr 2026 California State Senate

00:38 - 01:00

Speaker 1

Alright. The senate emergency management committee will come to order. If all members of the committee can move to Room 113, we'll establish a quorum. Hopefully, we have five bills on the today's agenda, but to keep things moving here, we're gonna start as a subcommittee if that's alright and allow senator Richardson to present first. So welcome, senator.

File item number four. This is s b twelve seventy, folks.

01:04 - 01:38

Speaker 8

Well, good afternoon, chair and members. Thank you for allowing me to jump right in so we can keep the train moving. I'd like to thank the chair and the committee staff for being forward thinking and working with our office to incorporate amendments that I believe will frankly maximize financial assistance for home hardening across California. I'm pleased to accept those amendments officially right now. The California wildfire mitigation program is currently conducting home hardening projects in six counties, five of which are located in Northern California.

01:38 - 03:20

Speaker 2

The office of emergency services in the department of forestry and fire protection identified that a minimum of 10 counties have the highest actual wildfire risk and social vulnerability, Los Angeles being one of those. In January 2025, Los Angeles not being on the list experienced two of the most destructive wildfires in California's state history. The Palisades fire and the Eaton fire consumed more than 30 thou 38,000 acres of land, destroyed over 16,000 structures, and displaced just under 13,000 households. Excuse me if I slur a little bit between DayQuel, Thoroflu, and Sudafed. We're pushing through here.

SB twelve seventy formally codifies that the the legislature would have the intent to expand the California wildfire mitigation program. This bill also directs that any remaining state funds would be able to be allocated appropriately. Further, this bill requires future legislative appropriations to also consider expanding in the various county areas based upon where the need is identified. As we continue to rebuild and fortify the communities ravaged by the Palisades and Eaton fires, home hardening assistance is critical to provide relief to homeowners, cities, counties, and frankly insurance companies as well. With me to testify, we have Jordan Wells with the California State Association of Counties who will chime in on the need regarding the counties.

03:21 - 03:23

Speaker 1

Thanks so much. Welcome. You have two minutes.

03:24 - 03:56

Speaker 4

Good afternoon Chair Stern and member of the committee. My name is Jordan Wells. I'm here on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, represents all of California's 58 counties. I'd like to thank, Senator Richardson for authoring this important measure and for the committee staff for their work. Existing law established the California wildfire mitigation program to cost effectively harden homes and create defensible space in high risk and socially vulnerable communities with the primary goal to provide financial assistance to underserved populations in California's wildfire prone areas.

03:57 - 04:58

Speaker 3

Targeting funding based on both wildfire risk and community need better aligns resources with on the ground conditions and strengthens overall resilience to increasingly frequent and severe wildfires. Project participants receive an assessment of their home and financial assistance to implement proposed retrofits. Through a $95,000,000 hazard mitigation assistant grant from FEMA and and state funding, the program developed a statewide framework for community level home hardening and launched pilot programs in six counties with the goal to complete retrofits to over 2,000 homes. As of this month, an estimated a 140 homes have been completed and 27 more are in progress. However, all 58 counties play a role in wildfire prevention response and recovery.

SB twelve seventy would build upon the program's success by expanding the eligible counties while continuing to target resources to communities with the greatest need. The bill advances cost effective, data driven investments in wildfire mitigation. And for these reasons, we respectfully urge your iPhone on s v twelve seventy. Thank you.

04:58 - 05:09

Speaker 1

Thank you so much. We'll turn to general support, and we can come forward at this time. Wanna support the bill? Seeing one, welcome. David Kantana on behalf

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