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    AB-1455
    Energy & Environment

    State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection: defensible space requirements: ember-resistant zones: emergency regulations.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires property owners to create ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of structures in high fire risk areas.
    • Mandates the State Board of Forestry to adopt comprehensive defensible space regulations by December 2025.
    • Allows emergency adoption of regulations if standard rulemaking would delay implementation.
    • Gives existing structures three years after new buildings to comply with ember-resistant zone requirements.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bryan's wildfire prevention legislation revises California's defensible space requirements, mandating the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to implement new regulations for ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of structures in high-risk fire areas. The bill requires property owners in state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones to eliminate materials that could ignite from embers within this perimeter.

    The legislation establishes distinct standards for new and existing structures while allowing staged implementation to address compliance costs. For new construction, requirements take effect upon adoption of updated regulations, while existing structures have a three-year compliance window. The bill authorizes emergency rulemaking if standard procedures would prevent meeting the December 2025 deadline set by executive order.

    Property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, with varying fuel management requirements at different distances. The bill preserves existing provisions allowing insurance companies and local ordinances to require greater clearance distances with proper documentation. Implementation guidance will be updated within one year of the new regulations to include region-specific vegetation management strategies that balance fire safety with erosion control and native species preservation.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    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]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1455 Bryan Assembly Third Reading
    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]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Isaac Bryan
    Isaac BryanD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 8, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6017PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires property owners to create ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of structures in high fire risk areas.
    • Mandates the State Board of Forestry to adopt comprehensive defensible space regulations by December 2025.
    • Allows emergency adoption of regulations if standard rulemaking would delay implementation.
    • Gives existing structures three years after new buildings to comply with ember-resistant zone requirements.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Isaac Bryan
    Isaac BryanD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Bryan's wildfire prevention legislation revises California's defensible space requirements, mandating the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to implement new regulations for ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of structures in high-risk fire areas. The bill requires property owners in state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones to eliminate materials that could ignite from embers within this perimeter.

    The legislation establishes distinct standards for new and existing structures while allowing staged implementation to address compliance costs. For new construction, requirements take effect upon adoption of updated regulations, while existing structures have a three-year compliance window. The bill authorizes emergency rulemaking if standard procedures would prevent meeting the December 2025 deadline set by executive order.

    Property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, with varying fuel management requirements at different distances. The bill preserves existing provisions allowing insurance companies and local ordinances to require greater clearance distances with proper documentation. Implementation guidance will be updated within one year of the new regulations to include region-specific vegetation management strategies that balance fire safety with erosion control and native species preservation.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    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]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1455 Bryan Assembly Third Reading
    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]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 8, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6017PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member