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Assemblymember Bauer‑Kahan’s field representative outlines wildfire funding priorities, insurance modernization and local grants
Summary
A field representative for Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan updated the joint councils on the member’s legislative and budget priorities, including multi‑year requests for fuel breaks, local fire prevention grants, technology funding and proposals to modernize the Fair Plan.
Charisse Kound, field representative for state Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan, briefed the joint meeting on the assembly member’s recent actions and budget priorities for the Lamorinda area and the district.
Kound said the assembly member has submitted letters of support for local projects including Orinda’s Camino Pablo pathway rehabilitation and Lafayette’s Aquadec Row pathway project, and has introduced or supported bills on a range of issues from AI regulation to access to reproductive health care. On wildfire funding and prevention she summarized several specific budget requests being advanced by the assembly member and colleagues:
- $100,000,000 annually for the next five years for firebreaks and defensible space projects; - Prioritization of initial investments and maintenance for projects in high and very high fire hazard severity zones; - $100,000,000 over the next two years to create a dedicated fund contingent on adoption of a "Zone 0" regulation by the Board of Forestry; - Increasing local fire prevention grants to $100,000,000 to support hazardous fuel reduction, home hardening and wildfire prevention education; - $25,000,000 for technology grants to support evacuation planning, execution and response tools.
Kound also described the assembly member’s work on insurance issues, noting proposals to modernize the Fair Plan (referenced in the meeting as "b 2 90") and stabilization legislation (referenced as "a b 2 26") intended to help residents find alternatives to the Fair Plan and improve continuity of coverage.
Audience reaction
A resident in the chamber commented that automatic payment and renewal issues make the Fair Plan difficult for some policyholders, and thanked the assembly member for work on modernization. Kound confirmed the district office has been assisting residents with home hardening resources and insurance navigation and directed constituents to the assembly member’s website for more information.
Ending
No formal action was taken; the presentation was an update and an invitation for local officials to coordinate on state budget requests and advocacy for wildfire prevention funding.
