SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Assemblymember Bennett's AB 1934 , AB 1960, and AB 1964 have been signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Together, these measures forge a comprehensive strategy against severe wildfires by incentivizing structural hardening, fostering collaborative community defense, and establishing transparent state accountability.
Leading this effort, AB 1934 advances wildfire resilience across California by directing the State Fire Marshal's Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee to develop an implementation plan for a voluntary home hardening certification program by January 1, 2028.
The program aims to significantly reduce fire loss by providing homeowners an easily navigable path to making their homes ember resistant. Following a legislative report on the committee's findings, the State Fire Marshal will officially establish and roll out the certification program by January 1, 2029.
Building on these individual home improvements, AB 1960 establishes a new wildfire mitigation validation program in California to grant voluntary official recognition to communities making measurable progress in home hardening and defensible space. This recognition unlocks funding for community-scale mitigation projects.
Beginning in the 2028–29 fiscal year, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will be authorized to disburse Wildfire Prevention Grants Program funding to these recognized "cohesive fire communities" and eligible partner organizations for fuel reduction, prevention planning, and education. The bill also empowers CAL FIRE to prioritize under-resourced communities when evaluating grant applications.
Both of these measures earned the backing of the California Fire Chiefs Association and local safety officials.
"These bills are a crucial step forward in enhancing wildfire resilience for our communities," said Oxnard Fire Chief Alex Hamilton. "This legislation provides essential tools necessary to protect lives and property in Oxnard and across the region."
Completing this comprehensive package, AB 1964 mandates the Office of the State Fire Marshal to establish California home hardening standards by January 1, 2028, to boost community wildfire resilience.
The agency must then compile and publish a statewide report by July 1, 2030, detailing how many homes in moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones meet these new standards and how many require retrofits.
"California's wildfire destruction has reached a tipping point, and we must do more to incentivize effective home hardening," said Assemblymember Steve Bennett. "A trusted, state-authorized certification program creates the foundation we need to motivate homeowners to make this valuable investment in survivability."
"As entire communities face increasingly frequent and destructive blazes, this legislative package incentivizes neighborhoods to reduce risk together rather than one home at a time," Assemblymember Bennett continued. "By gathering comprehensive data to target our resources where they are needed most, California can decrease property loss, protect whole communities, and get the best bang for our buck in the face of climate change."
The passage of these bills marks a major step forward in California's shift toward proactive wildfire preparedness, creating a comprehensive roadmap to safer, more fire-resilient communities across the state.
Steve Bennett represents the 38th Assembly District, which includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Ventura. He is chair of the Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Change, Natural Resources, Energy and Transportation.
CONTACT: Taylor Spira, taylor.spira@asm.ca.gov, (805) 485-4756
