Wildfire safety: fire protection building standards: defensible space requirements: The California Wildfire Mitigation Strategic Planning Act.

Senators Becker and Laird's wildfire safety legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing wildfire risk mitigation efforts across California. The bill creates three new planning mechanisms: a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Planning Framework to assess mitigation actions, a statewide Wildfire Risk Baseline and Forecast to track risk metrics, and an annual Scenarios Report to analyze spending and risk reduction strategies.

The legislation accelerates implementation of ember-resistant zone requirements for existing structures in high-risk areas. For rental properties, these requirements take effect immediately upon adoption of new regulations, while other existing properties must comply either at the point of sale or within three years. The State Fire Marshal must also extend fire protection building standards to all reconstruction of buildings destroyed by wildfires occurring after July 2026.

To support local implementation, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will provide grants to fund wildfire inspector positions and early compliance activities through fiscal year 2028-29. Local agencies receiving funds must adopt ordinances enforcing the ember-resistant zone regulations for existing structures in very high fire hazard severity zones. The bill expands eligible activities under the local assistance grant program to include public education, prevention work, and projects using the new risk mitigation framework.

The deputy director must contract with private consultants to conduct quantitative modeling of both community-scale fuel modifications and home hardening measures. This analysis will inform the development of cost-effective risk reduction strategies coordinating utility-related and non-utility wildfire mitigation investments across specific regions and statewide.