Existing law requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the states Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan.

This bill would require the task force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Assessment, the State Air Resources Board, and the State Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, as provided. The bill would require the task force, in developing this assessment, to, among other things, develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits of achieving the goals identified in the action plan and make recommendations on how the action plan can increase its health benefits. The bill would authorize the task force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with this assessment. The bill would require the task force to include this assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of wildfire smoke in the next update to the action plan, as provided.

Existing law requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the states Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan.

This bill would require the task force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of high-severity wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, as provided. The bill would require the task force, in developing this assessment, to, among other things, develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits of achieving the goals identified in the action plan and make recommendations on how the action plan can increase its health benefits. The bill would authorize the task force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with this assessment. The bill would require the task force to include this assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of smoke in the next update to the action plan, as provided.

Existing law requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, established by former Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the states Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan.

This bill would require the task force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of high-severity wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, as provided. The bill would require the task force, in developing this assessment, to, among other things, develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits of achieving the goals identified in the action plan and make recommendations on how the action plan can increase its health benefits. The bill would authorize the task force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with this assessment. The bill would require the task force to include this assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of smoke in the next update to the action plan, as provided.

Existing law requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, established by former Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the states Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan.

This bill would require the task force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of high-severity wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, as provided. The bill would require the task force, in developing this assessment, to, among other things, develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits of achieving the goals identified in the action plan and make recommendations on how the action plan can increase its health benefits. The bill would authorize the task force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with this assessment. The bill would require the task force to include this assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of smoke in the next update to the action plan, as provided.

Date of Hearing: June 24, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 899

Author:(Grove) – As Amended Ver:May 14, 2026

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force), in cooperation with specified state entities, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke.

Specifically, this bill, among other things:

1. Requires, on or before July 1, 2028, the Task Force, in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the Air Resources Board (ARB), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, including data from local, state, federal, and academic sources.
2. Requires the Task Force, in developing the assessment, to do all of the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from the smoke of wildfires in California since July 1, 2018.
   2. Develop a cost estimate for health care costs resulting from smoke of wildfires in California since July 1, 2018.
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits, both for cost and human health impacts, of achieving the goals identified in the state’s “Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan” (Action Plan).
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase health benefits.
3. Authorizes the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
4. Requires the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of wildfire smoke in the first update to the state’s Action Plan that occurs after the completion of the assessment.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1) OEHHA estimates a one-time General Fund cost of at least $1.6 million to contract with an outside entity to coordinate with other agencies and help develop the required assessment. Specifically, OEHHA notes that to conduct the retrospective assessment, the office would work with an outside contractor to characterize population exposure to wildfire smoke and link those exposures to emergency room visits, deaths, and related costs. To develop the prospective model, OEHHA anticipates coordinating with other agencies to (a) estimate the expected changes in wildfire smoke emissions that would result from achieving the goals in the Action Plan, (b) use those emission estimates to model corresponding changes in population exposures to wildfire smoke, and (c) apply those exposure scenarios to estimate the resulting health impacts or benefits and the associated costs of achieving the Action Plan’s goals. 

2) ARB estimates a one-time General Fund contracting cost of $1.4 million to implement this bill. ARB notes it would need to conduct photochemical modeling to estimate the reduction in exposure to smoke and air toxics from achieving the goals identified in the Action Plan. Further, ARB notes existing research studies have limited sampling of toxic emissions from burned furnishings, appliances, electronics, vehicles, and batteries. To develop full-scale emission factors for structure and vehicle fires, ARB reports it would likely fund full-scale burn experiments of human-made materials to fill existing research gaps in toxic emission characterization. The contract would also include comprehensive chemical analysis of emitted constituents to characterize into toxic emission factors that could then be used in ARB’s ongoing fire toxic emission inventory.

3) The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), which serves on the Executive Committee of the Task Force, estimates a one-time General Fund cost of $500,000 to contract with an outside entity to assist with the development of the required assessment.

4) One-time General Fund cost of an unknown amount, likely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, for CDPH to assist with the development of the wildfire smoke assessment.

COMMENTS:

1) Purpose. According to the author:

Wildfire smoke is impacting the health of millions of Californians, yet we do not consistently measure the full public health and economic costs. SB 899 helps us better understand these impacts so the state can make informed decisions and ensure our policies reflect the true cost of wildfires on our communities.

2) Background. There is general scientific consensus about the value of wildfire mitigation activities for forest health, ecological values, habitat, water quality, and other natural resources. However, catastrophic wildfires also impact public health through smoke inhalation. These public health impacts can be felt hundreds and even thousands of miles away as smoke travels through the atmosphere.

The major components of wildfire emissions are particulate matter and gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene. If fires reach the wildland-urban interface, other toxic chemicals are likely to be released from the burning of household or industrial materials, such as plastics, pesticides, and other hazardous waste. Wildfire smoke is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with heart or respiratory conditions.

In June 2026, the Governor’s Office announced the administration recently fast-tracked 400 wildfire prevention projects across nearly 100,000 acres and accelerated prescribed and cultural burning through coordinated action, streamlined processes, and expanded partnerships. In line with these efforts, the Task Force also recently released an updated Action Plan (2026-2031) to guide the state’s next phase of work to protect communities and restore landscapes.

Writing in support of this bill, a coalition of organizations argues there is a lack of understanding about how fuels reduction investments impact health outcomes for rural and urban communities. As discussed in a 2023 report from the California Council on Science and Technology, the coalition contends, “this missing data leaves policy holders with incomplete information about the true costs of these massive fires, and the direct human health benefits and health cost controls that come from investing in wildfire fuels mitigation.” The coalition argues this bill empowers policy makers and stakeholders with an assessment to fully understand the value of those investments, and that is vital for continuing “to address how the state’s strategies to restore resiliency to the state’s landscapes through fuels mitigation also improves the quality of life for all Californians impacted by these smoke events.”

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 8, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Isaac G. Bryan, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 899

Author:(Grove) – As Amended Ver:May 14, 2026

SENATE VOTE: 39-0

SUBJECT: Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

SUMMARY: Requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force), in cooperation with specified state entities, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) within the California Natural Resources Agency (NRA) and establishes various programs for the prevention and suppression of wildfires at CAL FIRE, as provided. (Public Resources Code (PRC) 701)
2. Establishes, pursuant to Executive Order No. B-52-18, a Forest Management Task Force, now known as the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, involving specified state agencies to create the action plan for wildfire and forest resilience. (PRC 4005)
3. Requires the Task Force to develop a “Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan” (Action Plan) as a strategy to integrate recommendations from existing state and federal plans that tackle various aspects of the state’s forest health and wildfire crisis. Requires the Task Force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the Action Plan issued by the Task Force. (PRC 4771)

THIS BILL:

1. States the intent of the Legislature to better understand the health costs and impacts associated with wildfire smoke to better value the importance of investing in achievement of the Action Plan goals.
2. Requires, on or before July 1, 2028, the Task Force, in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the California Air Resources Board (ARB), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, including, but not limited to, data from local, state, federal, and academic sources. In developing the assessment, requires the Task Force do all of the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from the smoke of wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   2. Develop a cost estimate for the health care costs of the smoke of wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits, both for cost and human health impacts, of achieving the goals identified in the state’s Action Plan; and,
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits.
3. Authorizes the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
4. Requires the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impact of wildfire smoke in the first update to the state’s Action Plan that occurs after the completion of the assessment.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• OEHHA estimates one-time costs of at least $4 million (General Fund) in contract funds for completion of the required studies in cooperation with the other departments named in this bill.
• CAL FIRE estimates one-time costs of $500,000 (General Fund) to support the cost of a contract to hire an outside entity to produce the required assessment of wildfire smoke, health costs, and impacts.
• Unknown, potentially significant one-time costs (General Fund) for CDPH to implement the provisions of this bill.
• NRA, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation anticipate any costs would be minor and absorbable.

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement:

Wildfire smoke is impacting the health of millions of Californians, yet we do not consistently measure the full public health and economic costs. SB 899 helps us better understand these impacts so the state can make informed decisions and ensure our policies reflect the true cost of wildfires on our communities.

1. Wildfire smoke. Wildfires have been growing in size, duration, and destructivity over the past 20 years. California is home to eight of the top 10 most destructive wildfires and has more than half of all United States’ structure losses. Wildfire season in California no longer is limited to a ‘season’ – it is year-round.

The major components of wildfire emissions are particulate matter (PM) and gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde and benzene. If fires reach the wildland-urban interface, other toxic chemicals are likely to be released from the burning of household or industrial materials, such as plastics, pesticides, and other hazardous waste. Wildfire smoke is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. PM is the principal pollutant of concern from wildfire smoke for the relatively short-term exposures (hours to weeks) typically experienced by the public.  Particles from smoke tend to be very small (with diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller, PM2.5) and can penetrate deeply into the lungs or can pass directly into the bloodstream. Wildfire smoke drifts with the wind, leaving pollution in its wake miles from where the fire burned. ARB compared air quality data from the 2018 Camp Fire with three other large wildfires that burned mostly vegetation. ARB’s analysis showed that elevated levels of lead, zinc, iron, and manganese were located as far as 150 miles away.

In September 2023, the California Council on Science and Technology and Blue Forest released a report The Human Health Benefits of Improving Forest Health in California, which examined the connections between forest management, wildfire smoke, and human health through interviews with health sector organizations and a review of scientific literature. The report highlighted knowledge gaps and the data, research, and collaborations needed to fill them, as well as steps to ensure improved health for living under frequently smoky skies. One of the major findings from the report was that comprehensive statewide and/or locally specific information on the adverse human health impacts of wildfire smoke are not readily available but could be generated from additional analysis of existing data resources.

1. Wildfire smoke impacts. All wildfire impacts can be categorized as either “direct” or “indirect” losses. “Direct losses” cover the immediate impacts of wildfires, including property losses, fire suppression expenditures, and debris clean-up costs. “Indirect losses” include all other adverse economic and health impacts of wildfires, almost exclusively attributable to the health impacts triggered by wildfire smoke. This includes the monetized value of all premature deaths and other (non-fatal) health impacts resulting from smoke exposure, and the estimated loss of economic output attributable to smoke pollution.

The 2023 report, The Economic, Fiscal, and Environmental Costs of Wildfires in California^[1], looked at wildfire-sourced PM2.5 data and assessed the indirect impacts of wildfire smoke to estimate premature smoke-related fatalities and other health impacts. Using United States Environmental Protection Agency data, researchers estimate that in 2018, the total mortality cost of wildfires was $39.3 billion. Further, they report that smoke exposure from wildfires also contributes to a range of non-fatal adverse health impacts, primarily cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Over a five-year period from 2017– 2021, the report estimated an average annual health cost of $286 million in California due to wildfire smoke.As it relates to emergency room visits, the report Emergency department visits respond nonlinearly to wildfire smoke^[2] published in the National Library of Medicine combined data covering all emergency department visits to nonfederal hospitals in California from 2006 to 2017 with estimates of daily wildfire smoke PM2.5 concentrations to quantify how smoke events affect emergency room visits. The researchers found that emergency room visits for acute respiratory conditions increase following exposure to wildfire smoke and that total emergency room visits increase in the week following low or moderate exposure. Relative to a day with no smoke, total visits increase by 1 to 1.5% in the week following low or moderate smoke days but decline by 6 to 9% following extreme smoke days.

As a result of wildfire smoke impacts on public health, the state incurs higher health care costs in paying for the care of the state’s Medi-Cal enrollees who suffer adverse health impacts. Up in Smoke: The Impact of Wildfire Pollution on Healthcare Municipal Finance^[3] found that smoke from in-state and out-of-state wildfires is associated with higher borrowing costs in the healthcare industry, amounting to $270 million in incremental costs from 2010–2019. Extrapolating from current smoke trends, the researchers predict another $585 million in interest expenses over the next ten years.

1. Task Force. The Task Force was established in 2018 to develop a framework for establishing healthy and resilient forests that can withstand and adapt to wildfire, drought and a changing climate. The Task Force developed the Action Plan to integrate recommendations from existing state and federal plans that tackle various aspects of the state’s forest health and wildfire crisis. The January 2021 Action Plan is the initial five-year plan for implementing the Agreement for Shared Stewardship of California’s Forest and Rangelands with the United States Forest Service and identified three key actions to address health impacts from wildfire smoke:

• Launch Smoke Ready California Campaign: ARB developed a Smoke Ready California campaign^[4] to provide coordinated messaging and content to help Californians plan for and protect themselves from smoke impacts.
• California Smoke Spotter App: ARB developed a California Smoke Spotter app to provide the public with information on nearby prescribed fires, hourly data gathered from permanent and portable air monitors, as well as personalized alerts. It offers a 24-hour smoke forecast, information on wildfires, and educational content to help people prepare for possible smoke impacts.
• Enhance Prescribed Fire Reporting: ARB enhanced data collection and reporting for PFIRS, a platform for aggregating data from air districts, fire management agencies, and burners. The enhancements enable more efficient reporting and analysis of the effects of prescribed fire and smoke.

1. This bill. SB 899 requires the Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, in cooperation with specified state entities, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data, including, but not limited to, data from local, state, federal, and academic sources.
2. Related legislation:

SB 223 (Alvardo Gil, 2025) requires CDPH, CAL FIRE, and the Task Force to coordinate and integrate existing wildfire smoke and health data from local, state, and federal agencies, and would require CDPH, in consultation with those agencies, to create, operate, and maintain a statewide-integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform on or before July 1, 2028, as provided. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 234 (Niello, 2025) requires, upon appropriation by the Legislature, CAL FIRE, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with specified entities, to form a workgroup related to exposure to toxic heavy metals after a wildfire. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 1795 (Gipson) establishes the Smoke Damage Recovery Act to require CalEPA, on or before June 30, 2027, to develop health-based standards and requirements for minimum sampling, testing, and chemical screening levels for residential properties that have sustained smoke damage as a result of a wildfire, as defined. This bill is ordered to Assembly Third Reading (urgency clause).

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Association of California Water Agencies
Bay Area Council
California Farm Bureau
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fire Chiefs Association
California Forest Watershed Alliance
California Forestry Association
California Society for Respiratory Care
California State Association of Counties
City of Fontana
League of California Cities
Megafire Action
Mountain Counties Water Resources Association
Nature Conservancy; the
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Sierra Business Council
The Nature Conservancy

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Paige Brokaw / NAT. RES. /

1. the-economic-fiscal-and-environmental-costs-of-wildfires-in-ca.pdf ↑

2. Emergency department visits respond nonlinearly to wildfire smoke - PMC ↑

3. Up-in-Smoke-The-Impact-of-Wildfire-Pollution-on-Healthcare-Municipal-Finance.pdf ↑

4. Smoke Ready California | California Air Resources Board ↑

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 899

Author: Grove (R), et al.

Amended: 3/18/26

Vote: 21

SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 7-0, 3/24/26

AYES: Becker, Seyarto, Allen, Cabaldon, Grove, Laird, Stern

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/22/26

AYES: Blakespear, Valladares, Allen, Dahle, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Menjivar

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/14/26

AYES: Cervantes, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

SUBJECT: Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force), on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the State Air Resources Board, and the Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke, and to develop a model to determine the health benefits of achieving the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Task Force (Public Resources Code (PRC) §4005).
2. Requires the Task Force to update the Action Plan every five years, beginning March 1, 2026 (PRC §4771(f)).
3. Requires the implementation strategy include specific actions:
   1. Increasing the pace and scale of wildfire and forest resilience activities (PRC §4771(c)(1));
   2. Strengthening the protection of communities and reducing their fire risk (PRC §4771(c)(2));
   3. Creating a sustainable wood products market in California (PRC §4771(c)(3);
   4. Sustaining and expanding outdoor recreation on forestland (PRC §4771(c)(4));
   5. Protecting and expanding urban canopy and forestry (PRC §4771(c)(5)); and
   6. Driving innovation and measuring progress in achieving the above goals (PRC §4771(c)(6).

This bill:

1. Requires the Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, to cooperate with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the State Air Resources Board, and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data.
2. Requires the assessment to include the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from wildfire smoke in California since July 1, 2018;
   2. Develop a cost estimate for the health care costs of smoke from wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits (both cost and human health benefits) of achieving the goals of the Action Plan; and
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits.
3. Allows the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
4. Requires the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impacts of wildfire smoke in the first update to the Action Plan that occurs after completion of the assessment.

Background

Promoting a more complete understanding of the benefits of wildfire resilience. There is general scientific consensus about the value of wildfire mitigation activities for forest health, ecological values, habitat, water quality, and other natural resources. However, catastrophic wildfires also impact public health through smoke inhalation. These public health impacts can be felt hundreds and even thousands of miles away as smoke travels through the atmosphere. This bill would help the state quantify the negative public health impacts of wildfire smoke, and understand the benefits of wildfire mitigation activities as they relate to reducing those impacts.

Prior/Related Legislation

SB 223 (Alvarado-Gil, 2025) would have required DPH to maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform to provide information to understand the negative health impacts of wildfire smoke and evaluate the impacts of wildfire mitigation on health outcomes. This bill was held on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 2243 (Eduardo Garcia, Chapter 778, Statutes of 2022) requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to consider revising the wildfire smoke standard to reduce the existing air quality index threshold for PM₂.₅ at which respiratory equipment becomes mandatory for farmworkers.

AB 661 (McCarty, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2019) requires the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District to prepare a wildfire smoke emergency plan.

AB 836 (Wicks, Chapter 393, Statutes of 2019) establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program. This program sunset on January 1, 2025.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis:

• OEHHA estimates one-time costs of at least $4 million (General Fund) in contract funds for completion of the required studies in cooperation with the other departments named in this bill.
• The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) estimates one-time costs of $500,000 (General Fund) to support the cost of a contract to hire an outside entity to produce the required assessment of wildfire smoke, health costs, and impacts.
• Unknown, potentially significant one-time costs (General Fund) for CDPH to implement the provisions of this bill.
• The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) anticipate any costs would be minor and absorbable.

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/14/86)

California Forest Watershed Alliance (sponsor)

Association of California Water Agencies
Bay Area Council
California Farm Bureau
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fire Chiefs Association
California Forestry Association
California State Association of Counties
City of Fontana
League of California Cities
Megafire Action
Sierra Business Council
The Nature Conservancy

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/14/26)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “Wildfire smoke is impacting the health of millions of Californians, yet we do not consistently measure the full public health and economic costs. SB 899 helps us better understand these impacts so the state can make informed decisions and ensure our policies reflect the true cost of wildfires on our communities.”

Prepared by: Edith Hannigan / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116

5/18/26 15:03:44

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 899 (Grove) - Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

Bill Summary:

This bill would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the Department of Public Health (CDPH), to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke, and to develop a model to determine the health benefits of achieving the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on May 14, 2026

Fiscal Impact:

• OEHHA estimates one-time costs of $1.6 million (General Fund) in contract funds for completion of the required studies in cooperation with the other departments named in this bill.
• One-time costs of $1.4 million (General Fund) for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to support OEHHA’s assessment and otherwise contribute to implementation of this bill.
• The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) estimates one-time costs of $500,000 (General Fund) to support the cost of a contract to hire an outside entity to produce the required assessment of wildfire smoke, health costs, and impacts.
• Unknown, potentially significant one-time costs (General Fund) for CDPH to implement the provisions of this bill.
• The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) anticipate any costs would be minor and absorbable.

Author Amendments:

Author amendments would add CARB to the entities listed in the bill to cooperate with the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force on the wildfire smoke assessment.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 899 (Grove) - Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

Bill Summary:

This bill would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the Department of Public Health (CDPH), to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke, and to develop a model to determine the health benefits of achieving the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

Fiscal Impact:

• OEHHA estimates one-time costs of at least $4 million (General Fund) in contract funds for completion of the required studies in cooperation with the other departments named in this bill.
• The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) estimates one-time costs of $500,000 (General Fund) to support the cost of a contract to hire an outside entity to produce the required assessment of wildfire smoke, health costs, and impacts.
• Unknown, potentially significant one-time costs (General Fund) for CDPH to implement the provisions of this bill.
• The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) anticipate any costs would be minor and absorbable.

Background:

Wildfires expose populations to a number of air pollution hazards including smoke and the byproducts of combustion chemicals that can be released from burning structures and furnishings. Particulate matter (PM) exposure is the principal public health threat from short-term exposures to wildfire smoke.

According to a 2022 CDPH report, the ten largest wildfires in California’s recorded history have occurred since 2000 – with five of these wildfires occurring in a single year (2020). The 2020 August Complex wildfire was the first California wildfire to burn one million acres. Instead of primarily late summer and early fall, wildfires now occur throughout the year. The 2022 Big Sur wildfire started in January and the 2017 Thomas wildfire started in December. Scientists predict that climate change will result in “longer, hotter, and drier fire seasons” that increase the risk of severe wildfires and exposure to wildfire smoke.

According to CDPH, this new reality creates challenges for California’s public health officials on many fronts. Wildfires produce large amounts of particles and gases, including fine and coarse particles, greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbon, and nitrogen oxides. The impact of wildfires on air quality depends on weather patterns, fire plume dynamics, amount and chemical composition of the emissions, and atmosphere into which the emissions are dispersed. Geography also plays a role; mountains and other features may contribute to inversion layers that can keep smoke contained in certain areas. Wildfires pose risk to human life in addition to the public health consequences beyond the immediate impacts to people, animals, and the environment. Wildfire smoke can be especially concerning for marginalized communities, where people have fewer resources for avoiding smoke and less access to adequate health care.

According to the 2022 CDPH report, a growing body of scientific evidence links wildfire smoke exposure to various adverse health effects. Although it is often assumed that most healthy people will recover from short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, others may experience more severe symptoms due to biological factors (such as life stage or pre-existing medical conditions) and extrinsic, nonbiologic factors (socioeconomic status, lack of access to adequate housing, lack of access to healthcare, etc.).

Studies of ambient air pollution have found that exposure to fine and coarse particles is linked with increased risk of premature mortality and aggravation of pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Recent reviews conclude that a strong association exists between exposure to wildfire smoke or wildfire-particulate matter (PM) and mortality and respiratory morbidity. Strong positive associations have been found between wildfire smoke exposure and exacerbations of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and pneumonia. Studies have also linked fine PM to increased risks of heart attacks and sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, or stroke.

Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force). Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr, signed Executive Order No. B-52-18 on May 10, 2018, and established the Task Force to oversee its implementation. The Executive Order authorized state agencies to improve forest health and restoration, provide regulatory relief, reduce barriers to prescribed fire boost education and outreach to landowners, and support wood products innovation. The Task Force issued a “Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan” (Action Plan) in January 2021, and the Legislature required the Task Force to establish an implementation strategy by January 2022, which they did (Public Resources Code (PRC) §4771). The Task Force is required to update the Action Plan every five years (PRC §4771(f)).

Proposed Law:

This bill would:

1. Make findings and declarations regarding the health and economic impacts of wildfire smoke, and the stated importance of investing in achieving the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan goals.
   
2. Require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to, on or before July 1, 2028, to cooperate with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data.
   
3. Require the assessment to include the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from wildfire smoke in California since July 1, 2018;
   2. Develop a cost estimate for the health care costs of smoke from wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits (both cost and human health benefits) of achieving the goals of the Action Plan; and
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits.
4. Allow the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
5. Require the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impacts of wildfire smoke in the first update to the Action Plan that occurs after completion of the assessment.

Related Legislation:

SB 223 (Alvarado-Gil, 2025) would have required CDPH to maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform to provide information to understand the negative health impacts of wildfire smoke and evaluate the impacts of wildfire mitigation on health outcomes. This bill was held on the Suspense file in this committee.

SB 945 (Alvarado-Gil, 2024) is identical to SB 223 above. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on the suspense file.

AB 2243 (Eduardo Garcia, Chapter 778, Statutes of 2022) requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to consider revising the wildfire smoke standard to reduce the existing air quality index threshold for PM₂.₅ at which respiratory equipment becomes mandatory for farmworkers.

AB 661 (McCarty, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2019) requires the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District to prepare a wildfire smoke emergency plan.

AB 836 (Wicks, Chapter 393, Statutes of 2019) establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program. This program sunsets on January 1, 2025.

Staff Comments:

There is general scientific consensus about the value of wildfire mitigation activities for forest health, ecological values, habitat, water quality, and other natural resources. However, catastrophic wildfires also impact public health through smoke inhalation. These public health impacts can be felt hundreds and even thousands of miles away as smoke travels through the atmosphere, and could have state fiscal impacts through Medi-Cal and other state-funded public health programs.

OEHHA costs. To conduct the retrospective assessment as required, OEHHA would work with CDPH and external contractors to characterize population exposure to wildfire smoke and link those exposures to emergency room visits, deaths, and related costs. Developing the prospective model would involve coordination among the departments in the bill to (1) estimate the expected changes in wildfire smoke emissions that would result from achieving the goals in the Action Plan, (2) use those emission estimates to model corresponding changes in population exposures to wildfire smoke, and (3) then apply those exposure scenarios to estimate the resulting health impacts or benefits and the associated costs of achieving the plan’s goals. 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) may already have expertise related to these endeavors. Leveraging existing CARB programming could potentially help to lower the overall cost of this bill.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Senator Blakespear, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB 899

SUBJECT: Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

DIGEST: This bill would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke, and to develop a model to determine the health benefits of achieving the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. (Public Resources Code (PRC) §4005)
   
2. Requires the Task Force to update the Action Plan every five years, beginning March 1, 2026 (PRC §4771(f)).
3. Requires the implementation strategy include specific actions, including:
   1. Increasing the pace and scale of wildfire and forest resilience activities (PRC §4771(c)(1));
   2. Strengthening the protection of communities and reducing their fire risk (PRC §4771(c)(2));
   3. Creating a sustainable wood products market in California (PRC §4771(c)(3);
   4. Sustaining and expanding outdoor recreation on forestland (PRC §4771(c)(4));
   5. Protecting and expanding urban canopy and forestry (PRC §4771(c)(5)); and
   6. Driving innovation and measuring progress in achieving the above goals (PRC §4771(c)(6).
      

This bill:

1. Makes findings and declarations regarding the health and economic impacts of wildfire smoke, and the stated importance of investing in achieving the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan goals.
   
2. Requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to, on or before July 1, 2028, to cooperate with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data.
   
3. Requires the assessment to include the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from wildfire smoke in California since July 1, 2018;
   2. Develop a cost estimate for the health care costs of smoke from wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits (both cost and human health benefits) of achieving the goals of the Action Plan; and
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits.
4. Allows the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
5. Requires the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impacts of wildfire smoke in the first update to the Action Plan that occurs after completion of the assessment.
   

Background

1. Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force). Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr, signed Executive Order No. B-52-18 on May 10, 2018, and established the Task Force to oversee its implementation. The Executive Order authorized state agencies to improve forest health and restoration, provide regulatory relief, reduce barriers to prescribed fire boost education and outreach to landowners, and support wood products innovation.
   
   The Task Force issued a “Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan” (Action Plan) in January 2021, and the Legislature required the Task Force to establish an implementation strategy by January 2022, which they did (Public Resources Code (PRC) §4771). The Task Force is required to update the Action Plan every five years (PRC §4771(f)).
   
2. More fires and more wildfire smoke. According to a 2022 CDPH report, the ten largest wildfires in California’s recorded history have occurred since 2000 – with five of these wildfires occurring in a single year (2020).^[1] The 2020 August Complex wildfire was the first California wildfire to burn one million acres. Instead of primarily late summer and early fall, wildfires now occur throughout the year. The 2022 Big Sur wildfire started in January and the 2017 Thomas wildfire started in December. Scientists predict that climate change will result in “longer, hotter, and drier fire seasons” that increase the risk of severe wildfires and exposure to wildfire smoke.
   
   According to CDPH, this new reality creates challenges for California’s public health officials on many fronts. Wildfires produce large amounts of particles and gases, including fine and coarse particles, greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbon, and nitrogen oxides. The impact of wildfires on air quality depends on weather patterns, fire plume dynamics, amount and chemical composition of the emissions, and atmosphere into which the emissions are dispersed. Geography also plays a role; mountains and other features may contribute to inversion layers that can keep smoke contained in certain areas. Wildfires pose risk to human life in addition to the public health consequences beyond the immediate impacts to people, animals, and the environment. Wildfire smoke can be especially concerning for marginalized communities, where people have fewer resources for avoiding smoke and less access to adequate health care.
   
3. Wildfire smoke and health. According to the 2022 CDPH report, a growing body of scientific evidence links wildfire smoke exposure to various adverse health effects. Although it is often assumed that most healthy people will recover from short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, others may experience more severe symptoms due to biological factors (such as life stage or pre-existing medical conditions) and extrinsic, nonbiologic factors (socioeconomic status, lack of access to adequate housing, lack of access to healthcare, etc.).
   
   Studies of ambient air pollution have found that exposure to fine and coarse particles is linked with increased risk of premature mortality and aggravation of pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Recent reviews conclude that a strong association exists between exposure to wildfire smoke or wildfire-particulate matter (PM) and mortality and respiratory morbidity. Strong positive associations have been found between wildfire smoke exposure and exacerbations of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and pneumonia. Studies have also linked fine PM to increased risks of heart attacks and sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, or stroke.

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author, “Wildfire smoke is impacting the health of millions of Californians, yet we do not consistently measure the full public health and economic costs. SB 899 helps us better understand these impacts so the state can make informed decisions and ensure our policies reflect the true cost of wildfires on our communities.”
   
2. Promoting a more complete understanding of the benefits of wildfire resilience. There is general scientific consensus about the value of wildfire mitigation activities for forest health, ecological values, habitat, water quality, and other natural resources. However, catastrophic wildfires also impact public health through smoke inhalation. These public health impacts can be felt hundreds and even thousands of miles away as smoke travels through the atmosphere. This bill would help the state quantify the negative public health impacts of wildfire smoke, and understand the benefits of wildfire mitigation activities as they relate to reducing those impacts

DOUBLE REFERRAL:

This measure was heard in Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee on March 24, 2026, and passed out of committee with a vote of 7-0.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 223 (Alvarado-Gil, 2025) would have required DPH to maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform to provide information to understand the negative health impacts of wildfire smoke and evaluate the impacts of wildfire mitigation on health outcomes. This bill was held on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file.

SB 945 (Alvarado-Gil, 2024) is identical to SB 223 above. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on the suspense file.

AB 2243 (Eduardo Garcia, Chapter 778, Statutes of 2022) requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to consider revising the wildfire smoke standard to reduce the existing air quality index threshold for PM₂.₅ at which respiratory equipment becomes mandatory for farmworkers.

AB 661 (McCarty, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2019) requires the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District to prepare a wildfire smoke emergency plan.

AB 836 (Wicks, Chapter 393, Statutes of 2019) establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program. This program sunsets on January 1, 2025.

SOURCE:

Author

SUPPORT:

Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)
Bay Area Council
California Farm Bureau
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Forest Watershed Alliance
California Forestry Association
California Society for Respiratory Care
California State Association of Counties
League of California Cities
Megafire Action
Nature Conservancy; the
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Sierra Business Council
The Nature Conservancy

OPPOSITION:

None received

-- END --

1. Wildfire Smoke Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials. CDPH. August 2022

   https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/CDPH%20Document%20Library/EOM%20Documents/Wildfire-Smoke-Considerations-CA-PHO_08-2022.pdf ↑

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Senator Josh Becker, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB Hearing Date: March 24, 2026

Subject: Fire prevention: Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: wildfire smoke

SUMMARY

This bill would require the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, and in cooperation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Department of Public Health, to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke, and to develop a model to determine the health benefits of achieving the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

Smoke gets in your eyes….and lungs, and bloodstream. As catastrophically destructive wildfires continue to impact California – most recently the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, January 2025 – the health effects of secondary wildfire impacts, such as smoke exposure, are becoming more apparent. Research is increasingly demonstrating the negative health effects of wildfire smoke, including exposure to significant levels of PM_2.5, can lead to additional deaths attributable to a discrete wildfire event.

Smoke is made up of tiny, mostly carbon-based particles measured in micrometers. Fine particulate matter – those particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – are called “PM_2.5,” and are generally small enough to enter and deposit in the airways and alveoli of the lungs. These particles can be coughed up or otherwise disposed of by the human body, but they can also enter other organ systems. Besides black carbon, wildfire smoke can also contain compounds such as dioxins or phthalates, which are particularly prevalent when a wildfire burns structures such as homes and business. Those compounds are formed from burning plastic and other man-made materials.

The adverse health impacts from exposure to wildfire smoke are of increasing and widespread interest to academic research due to the potential for widespread impact to public and environmental health and safety. Among other findings, research on rhesus macaques at UC Davis during wildfires in 2008 and again after the Camp Fire in 2018 showed impacts to the monkeys similar to the human lung disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and an elevated risk of miscarriage in pregnant monkeys when exposed to the wildfire smoke early in pregnancy.

In addition, Stanford University evaluated the excess mortality from smoke exposure after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Their research estimated a total of 14 additional deaths can be attributed to the wildfires due to acute wildfire smoke exposure.

Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force). Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr, signed Executive Order No. B-52-18 on May 10, 2018, and established the Task Force to oversee its implementation. The Executive Order authorized state agencies to improve forest health and restoration, provide regulatory relief, reduce barriers to prescribed fire boost education and outreach to landowners, and support wood products innovation.

The Task Force issued a “Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan” (Action Plan) in January 2021, and the Legislature required the Task Force to establish an implementation strategy by January 2022, which they did (Public Resources Code (PRC) §4771). The Task Force is required to update the Action Plan every five years (PRC §4771(f)).

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Task Force (PRC §4005).
2. Requires the Task Force to update the Action Plan every five years, beginning March 1, 2026 (PRC §4771(f)).
3. Requires the implementation strategy include specific actions:
   1. Increasing the pace and scale of wildfire and forest resilience activities (PRC §4771(c)(1));
   2. Strengthening the protection of communities and reducing their fire risk (PRC §4771(c)(2));
   3. Creating a sustainable wood products market in California (PRC §4771(c)(3);
   4. Sustaining and expanding outdoor recreation on forestland (PRC §4771(c)(4));
   5. Protecting and expanding urban canopy and forestry (PRC §4771(c)(5)); and
   6. Driving innovation and measuring progress in achieving the above goals (PRC §4771(c)(6).

PROPOSED LAW

This bill would:

1. Require the Task Force, on or before July 1, 2028, to cooperate with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to assess the health costs and impacts of wildfire smoke using existing wildfire smoke and health data.
2. Require the assessment to include the following:
   1. Estimate the number of emergency room visits and deaths from wildfire smoke in California since July 1, 2018;
   2. Develop a cost estimate for the health care costs of smoke from wildfires in California since July 1, 2018;
   3. Develop a model to determine the approximate health benefits (both cost and human health benefits) of achieving the goals of the Action Plan; and
   4. Make recommendations on how the Action Plan can increase its health benefits.
3. Allow the Task Force to enter into contracts with an independent group to assist with the assessment.
4. Requires the Task Force to include the assessment and additional actions to reduce the health impacts of wildfire smoke in the first update to the Action Plan that occurs after completion of the assessment.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT

According to the author, “Wildfire smoke is impacting the health of millions of Californians, yet we do not consistently measure the full public health and economic costs. SB 899 helps us better understand these impacts so the state can make informed decisions and ensure our policies reflect the true cost of wildfires on our communities.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION

None received.

COMMENTS

Promoting a more complete understanding of the benefits of wildfire resilience. There is general scientific consensus about the value of wildfire mitigation activities for forest health, ecological values, habitat, water quality, and other natural resources. However, catastrophic wildfires also impact public health through smoke inhalation. These public health impacts can be felt hundreds and even thousands of miles away as smoke travels through the atmosphere. This bill would help the state quantify the negative public health impacts of wildfire smoke, and understand the benefits of wildfire mitigation activities as they relate to reducing those impacts.

Related Legislation

SB 223 (Alvarado-Gil, 2025) would have required DPH to maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform to provide information to understand the negative health impacts of wildfire smoke and evaluate the impacts of wildfire mitigation on health outcomes. This bill was held on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file.

SB 945 (Alvarado-Gil, 2024) is identical to SB 223 above. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on the suspense file.

AB 2243 (Eduardo Garcia, Chapter 778, Statutes of 2022) requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to consider revising the wildfire smoke standard to reduce the existing air quality index threshold for PM₂.₅ at which respiratory equipment becomes mandatory for farmworkers.

AB 661 (McCarty, Chapter 392, Statutes of 2019) requires the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District to prepare a wildfire smoke emergency plan.

AB 836 (Wicks, Chapter 393, Statutes of 2019) establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program. This program sunset on January 1, 2025.

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: None

SUPPORT

California Forest Watershed Alliance (sponsor)

Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)
Bay Area Council

California Farm Bureau
California Forestry Association

League of California Cities

Megafire Action

Sierra Business Council
The Nature Conservancy

OPPOSITION

None Received

-- END --