Committee advances bill to streamline post-wildfire permitting and rebuilding

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, chair of the California State Assembly Emergency Management Committee, led the committee on June 30 as members voted to advance SB 904 to the Committee on Appropriations. Senator Ciardo presented the bill, which would codify provisions of Executive Order N-4225 to speed permitting and coordinate building-code requirements after state-declared wildfire disasters.

"This bill codified similar provisions from Executive Order N-4225 that focus on identifying permitting requirements and building codes that may impede rebuilding efforts and could potentially be streamlined," Senator Ciardo said in presenting the measure. He told the committee it would help ensure affected communities are not overlooked during recovery.

Ciardo said the measure sets a standard procedure for coordinating agencies during a state of emergency so that rebuilding can proceed with urgency. There were no primary witnesses registered in support or opposition at the hearing; the senator said he did not bring witnesses "at this late hour." Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions.

Assemblymember Calderon moved the bill and Assemblymember DeMio seconded the motion; the committee voted to pass the measure as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.

The bill’s next step is the appropriations committee, where members will review fiscal impacts and any further amendments. No additional substantive changes were recorded during the hearing.