AB 478, introduced by Assemblymember Zibur, would require cities and counties, when they next update an emergency plan, to include procedures for rescuing pets located in mandatory evacuation zones, provide online resources on pet evacuation and reunification, and extend the reclaim period before rescued animals may be adopted, transferred or euthanized.

The author said the bill is rooted in experiences from recent fires and animal rescues and stressed the bill gives local jurisdictions flexibility to design procedures that make sense for their conditions. Nick Sackett, representing sponsor Social Compassion in Legislation, described data linking pets to evacuation failures and said the law would give jurisdictions a designated entity to manage animal rescue and reunification.

Opponents raised operational concerns. Karen Lang of the California Animal Welfare Association asked the committee to strike a proposed 30‑day mandatory hold requirement for animals brought to shelters, arguing shelters need flexibility during disasters and that a uniform hold period could be impractical. Julio Delano, a lieutenant with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, said implementation is resource‑intensive and flagged issues with liability waivers signed under emergency duress; he described an existing Riverside County agricultural pass that required extensive planning and training.

Zibur said the bill’s text leaves flexibility to local jurisdictions and that the measure had been amended to clarify that reentry is subject to approval by the incident commander. The committee moved AB 478 to the Senate Natural Resources and Water (referred in hearing as BNP) committee by roll call; the subcommittee recorded the motion as passed and later placed the bill on call during the session. Final committee action recorded the bill as advanced on a roll call of 14 ayes and 0 no votes.