Wildfire prevention: Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development: wildfire mitigation program.

Assembly Member Hadwick's wildfire prevention legislation extends the operational timeline of California's Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development and its comprehensive wildfire mitigation program through 2031. The bill maintains the Office's mandate to study emerging technologies and tools for wildfire prevention and suppression while continuing its role as the state's central hub for identifying new wildfire technologies.

The legislation preserves the Office's existing structure within the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including its research and development programs, consultation requirements with public and private entities, and oversight by a nine-member advisory board. Similarly, it continues the joint powers agreement between the Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to administer financial assistance for property owners, community organizations, and local governments implementing wildfire mitigation measures. The bill extends the repeal dates for both programs from 2029 to 2031 without modifying their current operations, funding mechanisms, or reporting requirements.

The Office remains responsible for delivering annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on its activities and recommendations, while the joint powers authority must submit a comprehensive evaluation of the mitigation program's cost-effectiveness, risk reduction outcomes, and implementation challenges by July 2028. These reporting mechanisms provide continued oversight of both programs through their extended operational period.