Bill > AB1960

This bill establishes a voluntary wildfire mitigation validation program, administered by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in consultation with the State Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee, to officially recognize communities that demonstrate progress in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. The program will define specific wildfire mitigation measures, including home hardening and defensible space requirements, and set minimum percentages of these mitigations needed for recognition, with increasing thresholds over time to encourage ongoing preparedness. Starting in the 2028-29 fiscal year, funds from the Wildfire Prevention Grants Program can be awarded to these recognized communities, or communities partnering with fire safe councils or other eligible groups, for activities like hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and education, with a provision to prioritize disadvantaged recognized communities. Importantly, recognition under this program will not be used for insurance purposes, such as rate adjustments, without supporting empirical evidence.