SB85: Relating to wildfire risk reduction; declaring an emergency.

Legislative Summary

The Act tells certain state agencies, in consult with the insurance sector, to study and suggest ways to reduce wildfire risks. The Act tells the agencies to report on these topics to the legislature by a stated date. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). [Digest: The Act directs the State Fire Marshal to create a grant program to help property owners with wildfire resilience. The Act creates a fund related to the grant program. The Act directs the State Fire Marshal to report on the grant program. The Act directs agencies to plan for a program for certifying reduced wildfire risk for insurance purposes. The Act gives moneys to the State Fire Marshal for the grant program. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.9).] [Directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program.] [Establishes the Neighborhood Protection Cooperative Grant Program Fund.] [Directs the Department of the State Fire Marshal to include status reports on the program in certain biannual reports.] [Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services, the Department of the State Fire Marshal and the State Forestry Department to develop a plan and implementation timeline for establishing an insurance-related risk reduction certification program and report on the program on or before December 1, 2026.] [Appropriates moneys to the State Fire Marshal, out of the General Fund, for implementing the neighborhood protection cooperative grant program.] Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the State Forestry Department and the insurance industry, to evaluate and develop recommendations for community-based wildfire risk mitigation to reduce wildfire risks and increase insurance affordability and availability. Directs that a report be prepared and submitted to the Legislative Assembly on or before February 2, 2026, containing recommendations and other specified information. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.