SB-514
Energy & Environment

Wildfire prevention: qualified entities: assessments.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands wildfire prevention by allowing more organizations to conduct defensible space assessments.
  • Requires property owners' voluntary assessment data to remain confidential upon request.
  • Creates a standardized training program for entities conducting fire safety assessments.
  • Establishes an annual reporting system to track defensible space compliance across jurisdictions.

Summary

Senator Cabaldon's wildfire prevention legislation expands California's defensible space assessment program by permanently authorizing qualified entities to evaluate properties' fire safety measures in both state and local responsibility areas. The bill adds nonprofit organizations focused on wildfire resiliency and contractors who conduct fire safety improvements to the roster of entities eligible to perform assessments after completing required training.

The legislation establishes new data privacy protections, requiring that information voluntarily provided by property owners be anonymized upon request and prohibiting its use for enforcement purposes without explicit authorization. Property assessments will be tracked through a common reporting platform, allowing the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to direct inspection resources based on compliance patterns and compile annual reports comparing assessment outcomes across jurisdictions.

Under the bill's provisions, qualified entities may evaluate properties' adherence to defensible space requirements and educate owners about structure hardening measures, though they hold no enforcement authority. The Department must develop standardized training to ensure consistent assessment methods and messaging across all participating organizations. This training program, previously set to expire in 2026, would continue indefinitely to support ongoing wildfire prevention efforts.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB514 Cabaldon
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
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Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Christopher Cabaldon
Christopher CabaldonD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Latest Voting History

August 29, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
110415PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands wildfire prevention by allowing more organizations to conduct defensible space assessments.
  • Requires property owners' voluntary assessment data to remain confidential upon request.
  • Creates a standardized training program for entities conducting fire safety assessments.
  • Establishes an annual reporting system to track defensible space compliance across jurisdictions.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Christopher Cabaldon
Christopher CabaldonD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Cabaldon's wildfire prevention legislation expands California's defensible space assessment program by permanently authorizing qualified entities to evaluate properties' fire safety measures in both state and local responsibility areas. The bill adds nonprofit organizations focused on wildfire resiliency and contractors who conduct fire safety improvements to the roster of entities eligible to perform assessments after completing required training.

The legislation establishes new data privacy protections, requiring that information voluntarily provided by property owners be anonymized upon request and prohibiting its use for enforcement purposes without explicit authorization. Property assessments will be tracked through a common reporting platform, allowing the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to direct inspection resources based on compliance patterns and compile annual reports comparing assessment outcomes across jurisdictions.

Under the bill's provisions, qualified entities may evaluate properties' adherence to defensible space requirements and educate owners about structure hardening measures, though they hold no enforcement authority. The Department must develop standardized training to ensure consistent assessment methods and messaging across all participating organizations. This training program, previously set to expire in 2026, would continue indefinitely to support ongoing wildfire prevention efforts.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB514 Cabaldon
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

August 29, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
110415PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member