Revises provisions relating to the use of the Internet by minors. (BDR 52-567)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elaine Marzola and 1 co-sponsor

AB 294 lets OES prioritize existing disaster funds for communities hit hard by major emergencies, focusing on infrastructure and housing recovery with unmet needs—no new money.

(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)

Purpose and intent

AB 294 would authorize the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to prioritize funding and technical assistance for recovery projects in certain communities affected by major disasters or emergencies. Specifically, it allows prioritization within existing federal and state programs to support infrastructure and housing recovery in communities that have both suffered population and business losses and have ongoing unmet recovery needs stemming from a major federal disaster, state of emergency, or local emergency.

Key provisions

Adds new Government Code section 8587.1.

The OES may prioritize funding and technical assistance under programs listed in the bill, including, but not limited to:

The federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (42 U.S.C. § 5170c)
The federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program (42 U.S.C. § 5133)
The California Disaster Assistance Act (Chapter 7.5, starting at § 8680)

Eligibility criteria for prioritized communities:

Suffered a loss in population and businesses due to a major federal disaster, state of emergency, or local emergency.
Have unmet recovery needs as a result of that disaster or emergency.

The bill does not create new funding; it designates priority within existing programs.

Affected entities and scope

Primary: The Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Governor’s administration responsible for emergency management and disaster recovery.

Programs affected are existing federal and state recovery funding streams, notably Hazard Mitigation, BRIC, and the California Disaster Assistance Act.

Communities most (potentially) affected are those that meet the dual criteria of population/business loss and ongoing unmet recovery needs after a major disaster or emergency.

Procedural and timeline context

Introduced: January 23, 2025.

Legislative actions highlight a multi-step path:

Referred to Assembly Emergency Management (early 2025)
Set for first hearing and suspense file in April 2025
Do pass and re-refer to Assembly Appropriations in early April 2025
In committee: Held under submission as of May 23, 2025

Digest and bill text indicate the measure does not require an appropriation (Appropriation: NO) and is subject to majority vote in the providing committee structure.

Summary assessment

AB 294 seeks to improve post-disaster resilience by giving OES a formal mechanism to steer existing funding toward communities with verified recovery gaps and demonstrable losses. It emphasizes infrastructure and housing recovery while relying on established federal and state programs. If enacted, it could influence how recovery resources are allocated in the wake of major emergencies, prioritizing areas with dual criteria of damage and unmet needs.

Bill