California Safe Homes grant program.

Assembly Member Calderon's California Safe Homes grant program legislation establishes a new framework for wildfire mitigation funding through the Department of Insurance. The program would provide grants to qualifying homeowners and local governments for home hardening projects and community-wide wildfire risk reduction measures.

The Department of Insurance would manage grant distributions through a newly created Sustainable Insurance Account, funded by legislative appropriations and external sources including federal grants. Individual applicants must reside in high or very high fire hazard severity zones, maintain insurance coverage through admitted carriers or the FAIR Plan, and meet county-specific income requirements. Cities, counties, and special districts can access funds by demonstrating alignment with the program's risk reduction priorities.

Grant funding would follow a tiered priority system, with roof replacements meeting Safer from Wildfires standards receiving top consideration, followed by creation of noncombustible zones around structures. Additional funds would support broader community projects that address structural vulnerabilities and environmental risk factors. The Department must track program outcomes, including geographic distribution of funds and verification that completed projects qualify recipients for insurance premium incentives. Beginning January 2027, the Department will publish biennial performance reports analyzing program impacts and recommending implementation improvements.