Bill > AB1

This bill addresses wildfire risk for residential properties in California by requiring the Department of Insurance to periodically review and potentially update its Safer from Wildfires regulations. Specifically, the bill mandates that by January 1, 2030, and every five years thereafter, the department must consider updating regulations to include additional building hardening measures and communitywide wildfire mitigation programs. The bill recognizes that over 2 million California households are located in high or very high fire hazard zones and that homeowners are struggling to obtain affordable insurance in these areas. As part of the review process, the department must consult with multiple state agencies like the Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify potential new mitigation measures. The bill also requires a comprehensive public participation process, including public meetings and opportunities for stakeholders to provide input on potential new building hardening measures. A key focus is encouraging the use of noncombustible construction materials that can reduce fire-related property damage and slow wildfire spread. The ultimate goal is to incentivize homeowners to invest in effective fire protection measures and help stabilize the residential insurance market in wildfire-prone regions of California.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1