Community Hardening Commission: wildfire mitigation program.

Senators Rubio, Cortese, and Stern propose establishing a Community Hardening Commission within the Department of Insurance to develop and oversee new standards for reducing wildfire risks in California communities. The commission would create guidelines for home hardening and community-level fire mitigation, while coordinating data sharing between state agencies, local governments, and insurers.

The seven-member commission, chaired by the Insurance Commissioner, would include state fire and emergency management officials along with public appointees. An advisory council comprising scientific experts, insurance representatives, local government officials, and industry stakeholders would provide additional guidance. Beginning January 2026, the commission would meet quarterly to develop standards addressing home construction practices, emergency access routes, vegetation management, and utility infrastructure protection.

By July 2027, the commission must complete new wildfire mitigation standards and submit recommendations to the Legislature on removing barriers to community-level fire protection measures. The Department of Insurance would simultaneously develop protocols for a statewide wildfire risk data sharing platform, allowing agencies to track mitigation efforts while protecting consumer privacy through voluntary participation. The commission would also conduct after-action investigations of major wildfire events to assess the effectiveness of protection measures and recommend improvements.

The bill directs the existing joint powers authority overseeing California's wildfire mitigation assistance program to consider updating its guidelines based on the commission's standards. Any additional program funding would require separate legislative appropriation through the state budget process.