Bill > SB429

This bill establishes the Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Program, which will provide grant funding to universities to develop a public wildfire catastrophe model (a computer-based simulation of potential property damage from major wildfires) that can help improve wildfire safety and risk management. The program aims to create a research and educational center that can provide insights for emergency planners, support wildfire safety efforts, develop risk mitigation strategies, and inform insurance and financial risk assessments. Eligible projects include developing the computational model and creating outreach initiatives to educate potential users such as emergency planners, safety groups, agricultural organizations, and researchers. The Department of Insurance will administer the program, awarding grants competitively and prioritizing projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, assist government wildfire protection efforts, provide educational opportunities, help reduce property and life loss risks, and improve consumer understanding of wildfire catastrophe modeling. The bill creates a dedicated Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Account within the Insurance Fund to support these efforts, and requires the department to develop a multi-year framework for the model's development, publish key milestones, and provide recommendations to legislative committees and the Governor regarding future budget allocations by September 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB429