AB 1455 would direct Board of Forestry to adopt emergency ember‑resistant 'Zone 0' rules if routine rulemaking would miss governor's deadline

Summary

AB 1455 would require the Board of Forestry to adopt emergency regulations implementing an ember‑resistant zone (Zone 0) if normal rulemaking would prevent meeting the governor’s year‑end deadline; author and fire‑safety advocates said embers cause most home ignitions and urged expedited action.

Assemblymember Bridal presented AB 1455 to clarify that if the Board of Forestry cannot finish rulemaking for 'Zone 0' ember‑resistant standards by the governor’s executive‑order deadline, the board must instead use emergency rulemaking authority to meet the timeline. The bill responds to prior statutory deadlines and a governor's executive order directing the board to produce defensible‑space regulations by the end of the year.

Supporters said embers are a primary cause of home ignitions in wildfires and that Zone 0 regulations — focused on ember‑resistant design and clearance immediately adjacent to structures — are critical to reducing home loss. Paul Mason of Pacific Forest Trust urged the committee to pass the bill, noting the legislature passed the underlying direction years earlier and the rulemaking has lagged.

No witnesses testified in opposition. The committee moved AB 1455 to the Senate Appropriations Committee as amended. (Vote recorded in the committee: motion carried and left on call during the hearing.)