AB-336
Energy & Environment

Criminal penalties: wildfires.

Failed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
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

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

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