Bill Sponsor
California Senate Bill 1079
Session 20252026
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: Fire Innovation Unit.
Active
Active
Passed Assembly on Aug 31, 2026
First Action
Feb 13, 2026
Latest Action
Sep 10, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1079
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Author
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Democrat
Coauthor
Democrat
Coauthor
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Summary
Existing law establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and establishes various programs for the prevention and reduction of wildfires. This bill, which would be operative until January 1, 2033, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the Fire Innovation Unit within the department to serve as the department's innovation arm for wildfire technology research, coordination, procurement, and deployment for technologies that, among other things, improve ecosystem and landscape scale resilience. The bill would require the unit to consist of the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development, the Innovation, Outreach and Coordination Program, and the Rapid Acquisition and Deployment Program, as provided. The bill would authorize the unit to establish and administer a program to fund early-stage, mature, or dual-use technology projects that enhance wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and response through grants, contracts, or both. The bill would also authorize the unit to (1) administer or monitor pilot, prototype, or demonstration projects to evaluate, mature, and validate wildfire-related technologies, (2) collaborate with public and private educational and research institutions on wildfire technology and innovation, (3) establish testbeds to test or evaluate emerging technologies, (4) provide technical assistance to local, state, federal, and international fire agencies to facilitate deployment of wildfire-related technologies, (5) maintain a publicly accessible resource to provide visibility into these wildfire-related technologies, and (6) provide opportunities for participation in demonstrations, pilot programs, and field testing, as provided. This bill would require the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature summarizing certain information related to the unit, including, among other things, the technologies and projects evaluated, tested, or deployed.
Documents (12)
09/10/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
08/31/2026
Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
08/31/2026
Senate
Unanimous consent granted to take up without reference to file.
08/31/2026
Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
08/31/2026
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
08/28/2026
Assembly
Ordered to third reading.
08/28/2026
Assembly
Read third time and amended.
08/28/2026
Assembly
Joint Rule 61(b)(16) suspended. (Ayes 57. Noes 1. Page 6819.)
08/28/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/27/2026
Assembly
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
08/27/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 26).
08/25/2026
Assembly
Joint Rule 62(a) suspended.
08/24/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on E.M pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.
08/21/2026
Assembly
Ordered to third reading.
08/21/2026
Assembly
Read third time and amended.
08/21/2026
Assembly
Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
08/13/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/13/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).
08/13/2026
Assembly
Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
08/05/2026
Assembly
August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
06/30/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
06/23/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
06/01/2026
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.M.
05/22/2026
Assembly
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
05/22/2026
Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 4418.) Ordered to the Assembly.
05/20/2026
Senate
Ordered to special consent calendar.
05/14/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/14/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4264.) (May 14).
05/12/2026
Senate
Set for hearing May 14.
05/11/2026
Senate
May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
05/04/2026
Senate
Set for hearing May 11.
04/28/2026
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/27/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3972.) (April 21).
04/10/2026
Senate
Set for hearing April 21.
04/08/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3758.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
03/24/2026
Senate
Set for hearing April 7.
03/04/2026
Senate
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.M.
02/17/2026
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.
02/13/2026
Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 14, 2026 8:31:37 AM
Record Updated
Sep 15, 2026 9:05:33 AM