Bill > SB894

This bill establishes the California Wildfire Resilience Loan Program, administered by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA), to provide financial assistance for projects and activities aimed at reducing wildfire-related risks and losses. The program will offer loans for measures such as home hardening, which involves making homes more resistant to ignition, and creating defensible space around properties, as guided by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The bill also allows for financial assistance for smoke mitigation retrofits and other structural improvements that enhance survivability during wildfires, and includes provisions for inspections and administrative fees related to these improvements. The program aims to improve property insurability, increase community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wildfires, and lower the upfront and overall costs for eligible property owners to obtain financing for these wildfire resilience improvements. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection may also provide technical assistance and public outreach to support the program, prioritizing areas with the greatest potential for reducing community structure loss.