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SB 973

Wildfire County Coordinator Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Allen and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a Wildfire County Coordinator Program to unify county-level wildfire planning, resource use, and response with state agencies for improved prevention, mitigation, and recov

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.
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Bill Summary · SB 973

Summary of SB 973 (Session 2025-2026) – California

Purpose and intent

SB 973 establishes a Wildfire County Coordinator Program within the state framework to support and coordinate wildfire prevention, response, and recovery efforts at the county level. The bill aims to streamline local-government integration with state resources, improve wildfire preparedness, and enhance alignment among counties, state agencies, and fire protection districts during emergencies and for ongoing mitigation.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation of a Wildfire County Coordinator Program

    • Establishes a program designed to designate or support a county-level coordinator role focused on wildfire-related activities within each participant county.
    • The coordinator is tasked with coordinating planning, resource allocation, and response activities across local agencies and with state partners.

  • Coordination responsibilities

    • Facilitates collaboration between counties, state fire agencies, emergency management offices, and other relevant entities (e.g., fire districts, CAL FIRE, Office of Emergency Services).
    • Aligns local wildfire mitigation plans with state strategies and funding opportunities.

  • Resource and funding framework

    • Provisions for funding mechanisms to support county coordinators and associated activities, potentially including state grants or allocations.
    • Includes accountability and reporting requirements to ensure appropriate use of funds.

  • Planning, mitigation, and recovery emphasis

    • Emphasizes development and implementation of wildfire mitigation plans at the county level.
    • Supports activities related to prevention, defensible space, infrastructure hardening, evacuation planning, and post-fire recovery coordination.

  • Data, reporting, and performance metrics

    • Requires collection and sharing of wildfire-related data to inform decision-making.
    • Establishes performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of county coordination efforts and program outcomes.

  • Interoperability and standards

    • Encourages standardization of practices, data sharing, and communications protocols to improve interoperability between counties and state agencies during incidents and planning cycles.

Who would be affected

  • County governments and their emergency management offices, planning departments, and fire protection agencies.
  • State agencies involved in wildfire prevention, response, and recovery (e.g., CAL FIRE, Department of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Services, and related boards).
  • Fire protection districts and local fire departments that operate within or across county jurisdictions.
  • Taxpayers and residents in participating counties, who may benefit from improved wildfire preparedness, faster coordination during emergencies, and enhanced mitigation programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Sponsor and co-sponsors: Include Sen. Henry Stern, Sen. Josh Becker, and Sen. Ben Allen (with SB 973 carrying their collaboration as sponsors).
  • Legislative path (recent actions): The bill has progressed through multiple committee stages, including:
    • Referral to committees on Natural Resources & Water (NR&W) and Environmental Management (EM), with amendments and re-referrals.
    • Approval by committees and passage with recommendations (e.g., “Do pass and re-refer” to Appropriations (APPR) or to Environmental Management, then suspense file as applicable).
    • Scheduled hearings and readiness for APPR suspense file consideration (e.g., hearings set for mid-May 2026 with suspense file entries).
  • Timeline: As of the latest actions, the bill is moving through standard California legislative processing, with hearings scheduled in May 2026 and potential consideration on the APPR suspense file.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves state-local coordination on wildfire matters, potentially leading to more efficient use of resources, better data-sharing, and stronger mitigation and evacuation planning at the county level.
  • May influence funding priorities and eligibility for counties seeking to establish or strengthen wildfire coordination roles.
  • Could affect timelines for local planning and reporting requirements as counties implement the program and align with state strategies.

Note: This summary reflects publicly documented provisions and the bill’s current legislative trajectory. If enacted, further detail from the final enacted language and implementing regulations would clarify all operational specifics, funding mechanisms, and reporting formats.

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

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