AB1531 - Office of Emergency Services: comprehensive wildfire mitigation program.

Assembly Bill No. 1531 CHAPTER 204 An act to amend Section 8654.4 of the Government Code, relating to fire safety. [ Approved by Governor October 01, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 01, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1531, Committee on Emergency Management. Office of Emergency Services: comprehensive wildfire mitigation program. Existing law, the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, authorizes 2 or more public agencies, if authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, to enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as provided. That act requires, among other things, that the agreement state the purpose of agreement or power to be exercised and provide for the method by which the purpose will be accomplished or the manner in which the power will be exercised. Existing law, operative until July 1, 2029, requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program to, among other things, encourage cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting to create fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings. That law requires the joint powers authority to develop eligibility criteria for property owners, community organizations, and local governments that may receive financial assistance under the wildfire mitigation program. This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2026, the Department of Insurance to be added as an ex officio nonvoting member to the California Wildfire Mitigation Program Board created pursuant to the joint powers agreement. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 8654.4 of the Government Code is amended to read: 8654.4. (a) The Office of Emergency Services shall enter into a joint powers agreement, in accordance with the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1) and this article, with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program to do both of the following: (1) Encourage cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting that creates fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings. (2) Facilitate vegetation management, the creation and maintenance of defensible space, and other fuel modification activities that provide neighborhood or communitywide benefits against wildfire. (b) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall delegate its duties and responsibilities for this program to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. (c) On or before July 1, 2026, the Department of Insurance shall be added as an ex officio nonvoting member to the California Wildfire Mitigation Program Board created pursuant to the joint powers agreement described in subdivision (a).