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AB 986

State of emergency and local emergency: landslides and climate change.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Allen and 1 co-sponsor

AB 986 authorizes California emergency declarations specifically for landslides and climate events to accelerate disaster response, though the Governor vetoed it citing unspecified concerns.

Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
#stateofemergencyandlocalemergency #landslidesandclimatechange
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Bill Summary · AB 986

Legislative bill overview

AB 986 would authorize California governors and local officials to declare states of emergency specifically for landslide events and climate change-related disasters, expanding the existing emergency declaration framework. The bill passed both chambers with overwhelming support but was vetoed by the Governor in October 2025, with a veto override vote pending.

Why is this important

Landslides cause significant property damage and loss of life in California, particularly in mountainous and coastal regions. Emergency declarations unlock state resources, suspend certain regulations, and coordinate disaster response—making the formal recognition of landslide and climate events potentially critical for faster, more coordinated emergency management and recovery efforts.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and definition concerns: Questions about what constitutes a climate change-related emergency versus routine weather events, and whether the criteria are sufficiently precise to prevent overuse of emergency powers
  • Gubernatorial veto reasoning: The Governor's veto suggests concerns about either the bill's mechanisms, cost implications, or whether existing emergency authorities already cover these scenarios adequately
  • Implementation challenges: Uncertainty about how local versus state emergency declarations would coordinate, potential resource allocation conflicts, and whether local governments have capacity to manage expanded emergency protocols

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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