RivCo, CA Republicans Unveil Wildfire Bills Targeting Crime, Recovery

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — California Republicans have introduced a new suite of bills to address the state's readiness for future wildfires and support recovery efforts following the deadly fires that devastated Los Angeles last month.

Bills introduced address everything from fire-related crime to water storage to wildfire prevention for homeowners to rebuilding efforts and more.

The legislative package was introduced Tuesday by Senate Republicans from Riverside, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties, along with representatives from Northern California.

GOP senators are proposing to offer tax breaks to homeowners who clear vegetation of their property and perform "home hardening." Another bill would streamline the process of moving powerlines underground.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), introduced SB-90, which would allow Prop 4 funding to reduce firefighting helicopter response times and make improvements to public evacuation routes.

"It’s our responsibility as lawmakers to ensure that our first responders have the necessary resources to respond to even the most challenging incidents,” Seyarto said. “As a former firefighter, I know first-hand what our firefighters are faced with battling these wildfires. We must be much more proactive in strengthening our response, improving our prevention efforts, and helping people recover from these catastrophic incidents.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego), along with Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase the number of firefighters employed in California.

“There is neither room nor time to play politics with this emergent situation. While this bill represents a good start, Republicans remain committed to tackling this issue from every angle,” Jones said.

Senate bills 264 and 265 would crack down on crimes that occur during a wildfire crisis. SB-264 would allow prosecutors to charge those who impersonate a police officer or firefighter during a state of emergency with a felony. SB-265 would also classify burglary committed during an emergency as a felony offense

“We need firefighters ready to respond, adequate water to fight the flames, a streamlined process for rebuilding, and we must keep impacted communities safe from criminals who would prey on them in their time of need," said Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita).

Here's a list of the wildfire bills recently introduced by Republican senators, according to the announcement:

SB-223 (Alvarado-Gil): Requires the state to build and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform that would integrate wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases.

SB-268 (Choi): Excludes from taxable income, settlement payments made in connection with any declared state of emergency made by the Governor.

SB-269 (Choi): Provides a tax credit to homeowners who perform qualified home hardening and/or vegetation management on their properties.

SB-87 (Seyarto): Extends the sales tax exemption on fundraising activities for all-volunteer fire departments.

SB-90 (Seyarto): Allows the use of Prop 4 funding to support prepositioned mobile rigid water storage and mobile rigid dip tanks as eligible activities for improving public safety. By strategically positioning these tanks in high-risk wildfire areas, California firefighters can reduce helicopter response times and enhance the effectiveness of fire engines and helicopters while making critical improvements to public evacuation routes on specified lands.

SB-264 (Valladares): Allows prosecutors to charge those who impersonate a police officer or firefighter during a state of emergency, with a felony.

SB-265 (Valladares): Classifies burglary committed during a state of emergency – such as during or after a wildfire – as a felony offense.

SB-252 (Valladares): Exempts power line infrastructure from the CEQA requirements for undergrounding lines, allowing for expedited completion on projects to move power lines underground.