Committee advances bill to add landslides and climate‑exacerbated preexisting conditions to emergency definitions

Assemblymember Marisucci presented AB 986, a measure to include landslides and preexisting conditions exacerbated by climate change among the conditions that may constitute a state or local emergency.

Marisucci said his district — and the Palos Verdes Peninsula in particular — has experienced dramatic, accelerated land movement in recent years, producing repeated road damage, utility interruptions and homes that have become uninhabitable. He described local costs and temporary spending to stabilize roads and infrastructure and said current state practice did not recognize the situation as a disaster when land movement predated severe weather.

Mayor Dave Bradley of Rancho Palos Verdes and the city manager testified in support, saying the city had allocated tens of millions in emergency funds and continues to face ongoing movement that has required extraordinary spending. Melissa Sparks Kranz of the League of California Cities supported the measure, noting that the bill would allow state and local governments to secure resources when climate‑exacerbated conditions cause catastrophic impacts.

Committee members voiced support but also cautioned against an overly broad definition. Several members urged the author to consider thresholds — such as number of homes affected or severity of damage — to avoid routine overuse of emergency declarations. The author responded that declarations remain discretionary and that the bill simply clarifies that landslides and climate‑worsened preexisting conditions may be considered in emergencies. The committee voted to advance the bill to the Committee on Appropriations.