CA SB 616
vetoedCommunity Hardening Commission: wildfire mitigation program.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 616 pass?
No. CA SB 616 passed the legislature but was vetoed. Latest recorded action (2026-03-02): Veto sustained.
What is CA SB 616 about?
(1) Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement, as specified, with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, known as the California wildfire mitigation financial assistance program, that, among other things, encourages cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting that creates fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings. This bill would require the joint powers authority to consider revising the wildfire mitigation program in accordance with prescribed community hardening standards and guidelines developed pursuant to the bill's provisions, as specified below. (2) Existing law establishes the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, which regulates insurers and insurance practices. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including fire insurance. This bill would establish the Community Hardening Commission as an independent unit within the Department of Insurance, to be composed of specified members, including, among others, the Insurance Commissioner and the State Fire Marshal or their designee. The bill would require the Insurance Commissioner to be the chair of the commission. The bill would also require the commission to be advised by an advisory council consisting of specified members, including, among others, a local representative on behalf of a city or county, or association representing cities and counties, and a representative of the California Fire Chiefs Association. By imposing additional duties on local representatives of a city or county, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would also require the Insurance Commissioner, beginning January 1, 2026, and at least quarterly thereafter, to convene the commission to perform specified duties, including developing new wildfire community hardening standards to reduce fire risk and improve access to fire insurance. The bill would require the commission to make certain recommendations to the Insurance Commissioner, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in accordance with specified standards. The bill would require the commission to consult with specified stakeholders, including those from public safety districts and the insurance industry, in performing the duties described above. The bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2027, to complete the new standards described above and submit a report to the Legislature on additional actions needed to support cities, counties, and members of those communities in home hardening and wildfire mitigation. The bill would also require the commission to periodically review and update those standards, as specified. The bill would further authorize the commission to take various other related actions, including entering into confidential data sharing agreements and coordinating with the relevant legislative committees to secure documentation or specified information. This bill would also require the Department of Insurance, on or before July 1, 2027, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the commission, to develop guidelines for state and local agencies to aggregate and make available data related to wildfire risk for purposes of a data sharing platform. (3) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Who sponsors CA SB 616?
Rubio is the primary sponsor of CA SB 616, joined by 12 cosponsors.
Description
(1) Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to enter into a joint powers agreement, as specified, with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop and administer a comprehensive wildfire mitigation program, known as the California wildfire mitigation financial assistance program, that, among other things, encourages cost-effective structure hardening and retrofitting that creates fire-resistant homes, businesses, and public buildings. This bill would require the joint powers authority to consider revising the wildfire mitigation program in accordance with prescribed community hardening standards and guidelines developed pursuant to the bill's provisions, as specified below. (2) Existing law establishes the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, which regulates insurers and insurance practices. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including fire insurance. This bill would establish the Community Hardening Commission as an independent unit within the Department of Insurance, to be composed of specified members, including, among others, the Insurance Commissioner and the State Fire Marshal or their designee. The bill would require the Insurance Commissioner to be the chair of the commission. The bill would also require the commission to be advised by an advisory council consisting of specified members, including, among others, a local representative on behalf of a city or county, or association representing cities and counties, and a representative of the California Fire Chiefs Association. By imposing additional duties on local representatives of a city or county, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would also require the Insurance Commissioner, beginning January 1, 2026, and at least quarterly thereafter, to convene the commission to perform specified duties, including developing new wildfire community hardening standards to reduce fire risk and improve access to fire insurance. The bill would require the commission to make certain recommendations to the Insurance Commissioner, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in accordance with specified standards. The bill would require the commission to consult with specified stakeholders, including those from public safety districts and the insurance industry, in performing the duties described above. The bill would require the commission, on or before July 1, 2027, to complete the new standards described above and submit a report to the Legislature on additional actions needed to support cities, counties, and members of those communities in home hardening and wildfire mitigation. The bill would also require the commission to periodically review and update those standards, as specified. The bill would further authorize the commission to take various other related actions, including entering into confidential data sharing agreements and coordinating with the relevant legislative committees to secure documentation or specified information. This bill would also require the Department of Insurance, on or before July 1, 2027, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the commission, to develop guidelines for state and local agencies to aggregate and make available data related to wildfire risk for purposes of a data sharing platform. (3) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
- Introduced
- 2025-02-20
- Latest action
- 2026-03-02 — Veto sustained.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Rubioauthor
- Corteseauthor
- Sternauthor
- Cervantesprincipal coauthor
- Gonzalezprincipal coauthor
- Hurtadoprincipal coauthor
- Pérezprincipal coauthor
- Reyesprincipal coauthor
- Richardsonprincipal coauthor
- Smallwood-Cuevasprincipal coauthor
- Umbergprincipal coauthor
- Wienerprincipal coauthor
- Lairdcoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-03-02
Veto sustained.
2026-03-02
Stricken from file.
2025-10-13
In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-13
Vetoed by the Governor.
executive-veto
2025-09-23
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-09-13
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 3062.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-13
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-13
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 66. Noes 4. Page 3482.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-13
Joint Rule 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
2025-09-05
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-05
Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
2025-09-05
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-02
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (August 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-08-20
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-16
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-15
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on INS. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on INS.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-10
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-03
Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
2025-06-09
Referred to Coms. on E.M and INS.
referral-committee
2025-06-04
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2025-06-03
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1455.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-23
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1207.) (May 23).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-05
May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-25
Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-23
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 836.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-09
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 738.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-09
Set for hearing April 22.
2025-03-26
Set for hearing April 9.
2025-03-05
Referred to Coms. on INS. and JUD.
referral-committee
2025-02-21
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
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Votes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
2025-04-09 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Jones: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Becker: yes
- Niello: yes
- Caballero: yes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
2025-04-22 · pass · 13-0
Member-level votes (13)
- Allen: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Laird: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Stern: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Niello: yes
- Wiener: yes
Placed on suspense file
2025-05-05 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Wahab: yes
Do pass
2025-05-23 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Dahle: other
3rd Reading SB616 Rubio et al.
2025-06-03 · pass · 39-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Valladares: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Choi: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Becker: yes
- Laird: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Stern: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Niello: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Grove: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Allen: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Jones: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Limón: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Reyes: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Insurance]
2025-07-14 · pass · 5-1
Member-level votes (7)
- Bains: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Arambula: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Hadwick: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-07-16 · pass · 13-2
Member-level votes (17)
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Berman: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Krell: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Addis: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Chen: no
- Ellis: no
- Hadwick: other
- Wallis: other
Do pass.
2025-08-29 · pass · 12-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Elhawary: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Solache: yes
- Sanchez: other
- Ta: other
- Dixon: other
Unfinished Business SB616 Rubio et al. Concurrence
2025-09-13 · pass · 34-0
Member-level votes (40)
- McGuire: yes
- Becker: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Caballero: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Niello: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Jones: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Stern: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Allen: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Grove: yes
- Limón: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Dahle: other
- Weber Pierson: other
- Choi: other
- Valladares: other
- Laird: other
- Alvarado-Gil: other
SB 616 Rubio Senate Third Reading By Aguiar-Curry
2025-09-13 · pass · 66-4
Member-level votes (80)
- Ahrens: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Addis: yes
- Ward: yes
- Haney: yes
- Hart: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Soria: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Berman: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Papan: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Lee: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Davies: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Krell: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Ellis: no
- Jeff Gonzalez: no
- Tangipa: no
- DeMaio: no
- Hoover: other
- Hadwick: other
- Lackey: other
- Gallagher: other
- Sanchez: other
- Chen: other
- Castillo: other
- Macedo: other
- Flora: other
- Ta: other
Related bills
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