Committee backs voluntary home-hardening certification to help wildfire-prone homeowners

The Assembly Committee on Emergency Management voted to due-pass AB 1934, Assemblymember Bennett’s bill to create a voluntary Home Hardening Certification Program under the State Fire Marshal's wildfire mitigation advisory committee.

Assemblymember Bennett said California’s wildfire losses have reached a tipping point and argued that “home hardening works, but it needs to be holistic and comprehensive,” describing the proposal as a voluntary certification identifying hardening measures — including defensible space — that can be implemented during a renovation. He said the measure would provide “public pathways for hardening that we can easily build incentives around.” Bennett cited loss of entire communities since 2018, naming Paradise, Palisades and Altadena as examples used in his remarks.

No witnesses registered formal opposition. Julianna Boris identified herself for the record and stated her support on behalf of the lead California cities group; Jordan Wells spoke in support on behalf of the California State Association of Counties. The Committee received notice of a supporting letter from the California Professional Firefighters Association.

A motion to due-pass AB 1934 as amended was made by Assemblymember DeMayo and seconded by Assemblymember Arambula. The clerk called the roll; members recorded 'aye' votes from Alanis, Arambula, Bennett, Avila Farias, DeMayo and Chair Ransom. The motion passed and the bill was due-passed as amended to the Committee on Natural Resources.

The bill would require the wildfire mitigation advisory committee to establish a voluntary certification listing hardening measures appropriate for home renovations; it is designed to encourage incentives for homeowners and to align local, state and industry efforts around retrofit measures. The bill text and any committee amendments will be considered by the receiving committee.