California Assembly Bill 270
Session 20252026
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting pilot project.
Active
Failed in Assembly on Feb 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
270
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Roll Call Votes
Yes
Other
Other
Other
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Summary
Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.
This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot project to assess whether a firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology can be transitioned into operational use in the State of California. The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project, or January 1, 2029, whichever comes first, leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts. The bill would require an operator of autonomous aerial suppression technology that is part of the pilot project and that is required to submit reports to local or federal agencies about autonomous aerial suppression technology to also provide those reports to the department and the Legislature, as provided. The bill would include related legislative findings.
01/21/25 - Introduced
January 21, 2025
04/03/25 - Amended Assembly
April 3, 2025
05/05/25 - Amended Assembly
May 5, 2025
04/04/25- Assembly Emergency Management
April 4, 2025
04/29/25- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection
April 29, 2025
05/12/25- Assembly Appropriations
May 12, 2025
Sort by most recent
02/02/2026
Assembly
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
01/31/2026
Assembly
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In committee: Held under submission.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
05/06/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
05/05/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
05/01/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 1).
04/08/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
04/07/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
04/03/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
02/10/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on E.M and P. & C.P.
01/22/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.
01/21/2025
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Jan 22, 2025 6:02:03 AM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:47:11 AM