California Senate Bill 904
Session 20252026
Recovery from wildfires.
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Jan 21, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
904
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
Placed on suspense file
Senate Roll Call Votes
Summary
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency, including, but not limited to, suspending specified statutes, ordinances, orders, regulations, or rules.
This bill would impose specific duties on the Department of Housing and Community Development if the Office of Emergency Services makes a written determination, within 10 days after the date that the Governor declared a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, that the wildfire caused substantial structural damage requiring significant rebuilding efforts, as defined. The bill would require the department, under this condition, to consult with other specified state entities and local governments to identify state permitting requirements, provisions in the California Building Standards Code, and local procedures that could be suspended or revised to support recovery and rebuilding efforts as a result of the wildfire, as specified. The bill would require the department to prepare and submit initial and periodic reports to the Governor and Legislature with the information and recommendations.
This bill, except as provided, would require, upon the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, every state agency or political subdivision, as defined, involved in postdisaster response, debris removal, reconstruction, housing, or land-use permitting to accept electronic submission of any application, form, plan set, appeal, or request for state agency or political subdivision action related to recovery efforts for that state of emergency, as provided. By imposing new duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
01/21/26 - Introduced
January 21, 2026
03/09/26 - Amended Senate
March 9, 2026
04/06/26 - Amended Senate
April 6, 2026
03/12/26- Senate Housing
March 12, 2026
04/10/26- Senate Emergency Management
April 10, 2026
04/26/26- Senate Appropriations
April 26, 2026
Sort by most recent
04/27/2026
Senate
April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
04/17/2026
Senate
Set for hearing April 27.
04/15/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/08/2026
Senate
Set for hearing April 14.
04/06/2026
Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
03/18/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3589.) (March 17). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
03/09/2026
Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.
03/03/2026
Senate
Set for hearing March 17.
02/18/2026
Senate
Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and E.M.
01/22/2026
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 21.
01/21/2026
Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Jan 22, 2026 8:46:17 AM
Record Updated
Apr 28, 2026 8:43:17 AM