Wildfires: defensible space: education efforts.

Senator Alvarado-Gil's proposal to extend California's wildfire defensible space and home hardening programs through 2031 maintains the state's existing framework for property assessments and public education efforts. The legislation continues authorizing qualified entities—including conservation corps members, fire safe councils, and registered professional foresters—to conduct defensible space evaluations and provide guidance on fire-resistant structural improvements.

The bill preserves the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's centralized data reporting system for assessment findings, allowing the department to direct inspection resources based on compliance patterns. Local governments conducting assessments in high-risk fire zones must continue reporting their data through this platform. The department provides annual legislative reports comparing compliance rates between areas served by qualified entities versus those without such programs.

A companion training program for third-party assessors remains in place, establishing uniform standards for evaluations and educational outreach. The department issues certifications to individuals who complete this training. The bill specifies that existing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund allocations support a pilot program utilizing trained volunteers to assist with property assessments and compliance education.