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Cal OES, CalFire and LAO outline design choices for Prop 4 wildfire mitigation grants; lawmakers weigh timing and program parameters
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 crucial to increasing the number of properties we can mitigate, but it also increases regulations and can slow down implementation schedule," Fenig said, noting the agency is drafting agreements to speed environmental (NEPA) and historic‑preservation (Section 106) work and to provide technical assistance to smaller, socially vulnerable communities.
LAO advice on timing and program design
Rachel Ehlers of the Legislative Analyst’s Office told committee members there are two core decisions for policy makers: (1) program design (how deep to fund home hardening per structure versus how wide to spread funds to reach more households); and (2) timing of appropriations and whether to approve a multi‑year allocation schedule now or require further legislative direction later. The LAO advised that where the administration leaves major design choices to subsequent departmental rulemaking, the Legislature may want to retain more control over eligibility, matching requirements and prioritization criteria before approving multi‑year spending plans.
Implementation support and technical assistance
Cal OES said the first tranche of bond funds is planned to support project planning and technical assistance—helping local entities prepare FEMA subapplications, perform environmental review and meet federal eligibility requirements. Fenig said the agency already is working with six pilot communities under the California Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP) and that it receives rolling notices of interest from communities around the state. Cal OES reported 58 communities had expressed interest in wildfire projects in recent months.
Committee questions and next steps
Lawmakers pressed Cal OES for written details on eligible applicants and eligibility categories, a copy of application forms and the CWMP model, and cost estimates for staff and technical assistance functions. Several senators expressed interest in ensuring that Los Angeles County and other large urban counties have equitable access to the program and urged clear guidance on how the state will prioritize disadvantaged and fire‑vulnerable neighborhoods.
The LAO recommended the Legislature consider holding off approving a long‑term, autopilot multi‑year spending plan until key policy choices—matching rules, depth versus breadth tradeoffs and targeting criteria—are resolved and the administration provides more details. Cal OES offered to provide staff briefings and application materials for legislative offices and local jurisdictions.
No appropriation decisions were finalized at the hearing.
