Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.

Assembly Members Tangipa and Patterson propose modifying California's residential solar requirements for disaster-affected homeowners, allowing reconstruction projects to follow the photovoltaic system standards that were in place when the original building was constructed, rather than newer requirements.

The measure applies to residential buildings damaged or destroyed in state-declared emergency areas, provided the property owner meets specific eligibility criteria. These conditions include having an income at or below the county median, maintaining the original building footprint, rebuilding on the same site, and lacking code upgrade insurance coverage at the time of the disaster. Local agencies must verify compliance with the applicable historic solar requirements rather than current standards.

The provisions expire on January 1, 2028. Local jurisdictions implementing these changes may levy fees or assessments to cover associated administrative costs, as the measure does not require state reimbursement for the mandated program modifications.