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Bill

SB 223

The Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Juan Alanis and 6 co-sponsors

SB 223 mandates California health agencies collect and publicly report data linking wildfire smoke exposure to health outcomes including respiratory illness and mortality by region and demographic group.

May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
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Bill Summary · SB 223

Legislative bill overview

SB 223 establishes a comprehensive data collection and reporting system to track the health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure across California. The bill requires state health agencies to gather, analyze, and publicly report data linking wildfire smoke events to respiratory illness, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality outcomes by geographic region and demographic group.

Why is this important

California experiences increasingly severe wildfire seasons with significant public health consequences, yet comprehensive statewide data on smoke-related health impacts remains fragmented across multiple agencies. This bill would create actionable intelligence for public health responses, urban planning, and identifying vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by smoke exposure—information currently unavailable in coordinated form.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and agency burden: Requires significant data infrastructure investment and inter-agency coordination among health departments, potentially straining already-limited public health resources
  • Data privacy concerns: Collecting detailed health outcome data linked to geographic location and demographics raises privacy and security questions about how personal health information will be protected and stored
  • Scope and specificity: Questions remain about which specific health outcomes will be tracked, how causation will be attributed to wildfire smoke versus other air quality factors, and whether data collection timelines are feasible

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

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