California GOP lawmakers announced more than ten proposed bills on January 28th to improve wildfire prevention, firefighting response, and disaster recovery efforts in the state. The proposals cover streamlining fire prevention project application processes, encouraging homeowners to strengthen fire prevention measures, holding arsonists and looters accountable, and assisting with post-disaster recovery.
These measures come in response to the two catastrophic wildfires that broke out in Los Angeles on January 7th. The Eaton and Palisades fires have been classified as the second and third most destructive wildfires in California’s history, destroying a total of 16,255 buildings and claiming 29 lives. The cause of the fires is still under investigation, believed to be a combination of natural and human factors.
James Gallagher, the minority leader of the Republican Party in the state assembly, emphasized the urgency of clearing flammable vegetation during a roundtable meeting held after President Trump’s visit to the fire sites on January 24th. Both the President and other officials expressed agreement and pledged support for wildfire prevention efforts.
The proposed bills focus on three main areas: reducing flammable forest fuels and strengthening home fire protection to prevent catastrophic wildfires, combating looting and irresponsible drone use to enhance disaster response capabilities, and supporting local non-profit organizations to facilitate rebuilding.
The Democratic majority in the state assembly recently rejected a proposal to allocate an additional $1 billion for wildfire prevention, doubling the cut to last year’s budget for fire prevention and forest health projects to $1.439 billion.
Out of the 18 proposed or potential bills listed, some are yet to be numbered, and some may be combined later. These proposals will require the support of the majority party members in the assembly.
For example, the ABX1_3 bill introduced by Assemblymember Greg Wallis from the 47th district aims to provide tax incentives for home fire protection expenses, allowing eligible taxpayers to deduct 40% of their income tax from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030, up to a maximum of $400 per year or $2,000 cumulatively.
Other bills like ABX1_6 focus on forest fuel maintenance to reduce fire risks, ABX1_7 pertains to the 2024 budget bill that will exempt all wildfire prevention projects from the California Environmental Quality Act, and ABX1_8 seeks an exemption for controlled burning permits.
In addition, bills like AB267 propose reallocating greenhouse gas reduction funds and AB297 increase penalties for arsonists, while Assemblymember Heather Hadwick advocates for maintaining wildfire prevention funding and improving fire safety measures, among other initiatives.
These proposed bills aim to address the urgent need for comprehensive wildfire prevention measures and disaster response strategies in California, especially in the face of increasing wildfire risks and devastating consequences.