I am pleased to announce that my legislation, SB 904, has been signed into law. The bill strengthens California’s wildfire recovery efforts by creating a consistent statewide protocol to improve agency coordination and expedite the multitude of permits that slow rebuilding efforts so that affected communities can rebuild as quickly as possible following major wildfires.
Having spent 35 years in the fire service, I know firsthand the devastation wildfires can leave behind. When a wildfire destroys a home or an entire neighborhood, families should be able to focus on rebuilding their homes and their lives, not navigating unnecessary government bureaucracy, no matter where the fire strikes in California.
SB 904 was inspired by the state’s response to the devastating January 2025 fires in Los Angeles County. Following the fires, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-4-25 to coordinate state and local agencies, identify barriers to rebuilding, and streamline permitting. The order established a goal of issuing necessary permits and approvals within 30 days.
The challenges communities face after a disaster are a reminder that government action must go beyond promises and good intentions. Families deserve a government that is prepared, follows through, removes unnecessary obstacles, and makes rebuilding a priority, not an opportunity to force new mandates on victims. I introduced SB 904 because that commitment should not end with one disaster. Every California community deserves the same urgency and support when tragedy strikes.
While the order was an important step toward expediting recovery, families affected by wildfires throughout California can face complex permitting requirements and government red tape as they struggle through the process to simply rebuild their homes. SB 904 seeks to improve California’s response to future wildfire disasters by establishing a consistent process for identifying obstacles to rebuilding and recommending solutions.
The need for a coordinated recovery process should extend to communities across the state. I believe every community should have access to this expedited process.
Under SB 904, when the Office of Emergency Services determines that a wildfire has caused substantial structural damage and loss requiring significant rebuilding, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) must work with state and local governments to identify permitting requirements and procedures that could be revised or suspended to expedite recovery.
The bill also requires the state to review building standards that could be temporarily suspended to facilitate rapid, safe, disaster-resilient, and cost-effective rebuilding. Beginning in 2028, state and local agencies involved in wildfire recovery must also accept electronic applications, plans, and other documents related to rebuilding efforts.
In the eleventh hour, HCD sought significant amendments that would have substantially narrowed the scope and effectiveness of this legislation. I pushed back against efforts to water down the bill because I believe all communities recovering from catastrophic wildfires deserve a meaningful and consistent state response.
SB 904 received bipartisan support.
It is a privilege to be your State Senator. Thank you for this opportunity to be of service.