Bill > AB261

This bill modifies how the State Fire Marshal determines and reviews fire hazard severity zones in California, focusing on creating a more collaborative and transparent process. Currently, the State Fire Marshal classifies lands into fire hazard severity zones based on factors like fuel loading, slope, and fire weather. The bill specifically prohibits these zones from being based on risk mitigation activities that landowners or communities have already undertaken. It allows the State Fire Marshal to engage with various entities like public agencies, tribes, nonprofits, and project applicants between official zone reviews, enabling them to provide information about wildfire safety improvements or actions they've taken. These entities can submit information that might impact the fire hazard assessment, which the State Fire Marshal may consider during the next official review. The bill requires all communications and documentation related to these interactions to be posted publicly on the State Fire Marshal's website, ensuring transparency. Additionally, the State Fire Marshal is authorized to charge a fee to cover the administrative costs associated with these review and consultation processes. This approach aims to create a more dynamic and collaborative system for assessing fire hazard risks that takes into account local efforts to improve fire safety.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB261