Budget Act of 2024.

Senator Wiener and Assembly Member Gabriel's proposal to amend the Budget Act of 2024 establishes a $1.5 billion emergency funding mechanism for wildfire response and recovery efforts. The legislation authorizes the Director of Finance to augment state department and agency appropriations from available funding sources, including the General Fund, specifically for areas affected by January 2025 wildfire emergencies.

The bill creates a streamlined process for deploying these funds, allowing immediate access to the first $1 billion upon notification to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee chair. The remaining $500 million requires a three-day review period unless expedited by the committee leadership. Authorized uses include emergency protective measures, evacuations, survivor sheltering, hazardous waste removal, post-fire hazard remediation, traffic control, and environmental testing.

The measure maintains existing gubernatorial emergency powers while adding this supplemental funding pathway. Appropriated funds remain available until the relevant emergency declarations end or an alternate date set by the Director of Finance. The bill also updates administrative sections of the Budget Act to incorporate these new provisions and related appropriations legislation from both regular and extraordinary sessions.