AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 20, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 25, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Senator Stern

(Coauthor: Senator Allen)

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Section 4213.05 of of, and to repeal Article 3 (commencing with Section 4229) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 2 of Division 4 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to fire prevention.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, on or before September 1, 2011, to adopt emergency regulations to establish a fire prevention fee in an amount not to exceed $150 to be charged on each habitable structure on a parcel that is within a state responsibility area, as specified, and authorizes the board to annually adjust the fire prevention fee using prescribed methods.

Existing law requires that the fire prevention fees collected, except as provided, be deposited into the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and be made available to the board and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for certain specified fire prevention activities that benefit the owners of habitable structures in state responsibility areas who are required to pay the fee.

Existing law, effective July 1, 2017, suspends the fire prevention fee and requires any moneys held in reserve in the fund to be appropriated by the Legislature in a manner consistent with the purposes of the fund.

Existing law repeals the fire prevention fee program on January 1, 2031.

This bill would reinstate the fire prevention fee effective January 1, 2027, subject to the January 1, 2031, repeal. 2027. The bill would delete the repeal date of the above-described provisions, thereby extending the operation of those provisions indefinitely.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Reinstating the fire prevention fee ensures dedicated, sustainable funding for fire prevention in state responsibility areas, reducing risk to residents.

(b) Funding supports proactive forest management and vegetation treatments designed to reduce the severity of wildfires, allowing forests within state responsibility areas to better withstand ignition and reducing the intensity of wildfire behavior.

(c) Revenue allows for updated fire hazard severity mapping and the development of comprehensive emergency evacuation plans, providing homeowners with essential information to improve household safety.

(d) Fees provide vital grants to local fire safe councils and community conservation corps for fire prevention projects, augmenting the ability of local fire agencies to manage risks in the wildland-urban interface.

(e) Funding sustains fire prevention education programs for residents and supports fire-related law enforcement activities, including arson investigations and fire cause determinations, which are essential for reducing wildfires caused by humans.

SEC. 2.

Section 4213.05 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

4213.05.

(a) Commencing with the 2017–18 fiscal year, the fire prevention fee imposed pursuant to Section 4212 shall be suspended, effective July 1, 2017. 2017, to January 1, 2027, inclusive. Any moneys held in reserve in the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund shall be appropriated by the Legislature in a manner consistent with subdivision (d) of Section 4214.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that moneys derived from the auction or sale of allowances pursuant to a market-based compliance mechanism established pursuant to Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code shall be used to replace the moneys that would have otherwise been collected under Section 4212 to continue fire prevention activities. activities from January 1, 2017, until January 1, 2028, inclusive.

(c) The amount appropriated in the annual Budget Act pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be included in determining the amount of annual proceeds of the fund for purposes of the calculations in Section 39719 of the Health and Safety Code.

SEC. 3.

Article 3 (commencing with Section 4229) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.