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Cal OES, CalFire and LAO outline design choices for Prop 4 wildfire mitigation grants; lawmakers weigh timing and program parameters

3243563 · May 8, 2025
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Summary

Cal OES described a proposed wildfire mitigation grant program funded by Proposition 4 that would prioritize neighborhood‑scale home hardening and leverage FEMA hazard mitigation grants; the LAO advised caution about committing a multi‑year spending plan before policy parameters and federal match details are settled.

Cal OES and hazard mitigation staff told the Senate subcommittee they plan to use Proposition 4 bond funds to scale neighborhood‑level home hardening, defensible space projects, and other wildfire mitigation activities, and to leverage federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds where possible.

Program design choices and priorities

Robin Fenig, assistant director and state hazard mitigation officer at Cal OES, said the agency intends to prioritize $135 million for neighborhood‑scale home hardening and defensible space but noted the proposition authorizes a range of eligible wildfire mitigation activities. Fenig described opportunities to use state funds to match FEMA HMGP awards, enabling more properties to be mitigated but increasing environmental review and federal compliance requirements.

"Bringing in the FEMA matching funds is…

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