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    AB-336
    Energy & Environment

    Criminal penalties: wildfires.

    Failed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Increases penalties for recklessly causing fires by making most violations felonies instead of misdemeanors.
    • Mandates prison sentences of up to 6 years and fines up to $10,000 for fires causing serious injury.
    • Requires consecutive prison terms for inmates who commit fire-related offenses while incarcerated.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Wallis, joined by ten coauthors, proposes modifying California's criminal penalties for recklessly causing fires by requiring felony prosecution for cases involving great bodily injury, damage to inhabited structures, or burning of forest lands. The legislation amends Section 452 of the Penal Code to eliminate misdemeanor options for these serious fire-related offenses while maintaining maximum fines of $10,000.

    The bill establishes a three-tiered felony sentencing structure: two to six years imprisonment for fires causing great bodily injury; two to four years for burning inhabited structures; and 16 months to three years for fires affecting structures or forest lands. Cases involving damage solely to personal property remain misdemeanors, unless the fire injures others or damages their property. The legislation preserves existing provisions requiring consecutive sentences for individuals convicted while incarcerated and treating retail theft-related arsons as aggravating factors.

    Local agencies must implement these enhanced penalties without state reimbursement, as the changes fall under constitutional exemptions for modifications to criminal law. The bill maintains current definitions of unlawful fire-setting while narrowing prosecutorial discretion in charging decisions for more serious violations.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    James GallagherR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 20 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    James GallagherR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Diane DixonR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Bill EssayliR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Josh HooverR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Joe PattersonR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Stephanie NguyenD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tri TaR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jeff GonzalezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John HarabedianD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alexandra MacedoR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Greg Wallis
    Greg WallisR
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Tri Ta
    Tri TaR
    California State Assembly Member
    Kate Sanchez
    Kate SanchezR
    California State Assembly Member
    Joe Patterson
    Joe PattersonR
    California State Assembly Member
    Alexandra Macedo
    Alexandra MacedoR
    California State Assembly Member
    Jeff Gonzalez
    Jeff GonzalezR
    California State Assembly Member
    Josh Hoover
    Josh HooverR
    California State Assembly Member
    James Gallagher
    James GallagherR
    California State Assembly Member
    Bill Essayli
    Bill EssayliR
    California State Assembly Member
    Diane Dixon
    Diane DixonR
    California State Assembly Member
    Phillip Chen
    Phillip ChenR
    California State Assembly Member
    100% progression
    Bill did not receive enough votes to pass or was withdrawn (4/2/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    March 4, 2025
    FAIL
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    2349FAIL

    Key Takeaways

    • Increases penalties for recklessly causing fires by making most violations felonies instead of misdemeanors.
    • Mandates prison sentences of up to 6 years and fines up to $10,000 for fires causing serious injury.
    • Requires consecutive prison terms for inmates who commit fire-related offenses while incarcerated.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Greg Wallis
    Greg WallisR
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Tri Ta
    Tri TaR
    California State Assembly Member
    Kate Sanchez
    Kate SanchezR
    California State Assembly Member
    Joe Patterson
    Joe PattersonR
    California State Assembly Member
    Alexandra Macedo
    Alexandra MacedoR
    California State Assembly Member
    Jeff Gonzalez
    Jeff GonzalezR
    California State Assembly Member
    Josh Hoover
    Josh HooverR
    California State Assembly Member
    James Gallagher
    James GallagherR
    California State Assembly Member
    Bill Essayli
    Bill EssayliR
    California State Assembly Member
    Diane Dixon
    Diane DixonR
    California State Assembly Member
    Phillip Chen
    Phillip ChenR
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Wallis, joined by ten coauthors, proposes modifying California's criminal penalties for recklessly causing fires by requiring felony prosecution for cases involving great bodily injury, damage to inhabited structures, or burning of forest lands. The legislation amends Section 452 of the Penal Code to eliminate misdemeanor options for these serious fire-related offenses while maintaining maximum fines of $10,000.

    The bill establishes a three-tiered felony sentencing structure: two to six years imprisonment for fires causing great bodily injury; two to four years for burning inhabited structures; and 16 months to three years for fires affecting structures or forest lands. Cases involving damage solely to personal property remain misdemeanors, unless the fire injures others or damages their property. The legislation preserves existing provisions requiring consecutive sentences for individuals convicted while incarcerated and treating retail theft-related arsons as aggravating factors.

    Local agencies must implement these enhanced penalties without state reimbursement, as the changes fall under constitutional exemptions for modifications to criminal law. The bill maintains current definitions of unlawful fire-setting while narrowing prosecutorial discretion in charging decisions for more serious violations.

    100% progression
    Bill did not receive enough votes to pass or was withdrawn (4/2/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    March 4, 2025
    FAIL
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    2349FAIL

    Contacts

    Profile
    James GallagherR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 20 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    James GallagherR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Diane DixonR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Bill EssayliR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Josh HooverR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Joe PattersonR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Stephanie NguyenD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tri TaR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jeff GonzalezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John HarabedianD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alexandra MacedoR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member