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Committee restores five‑year review cycle for fire hazard severity zone maps in AB 300
Summary
AB 300 would require the state fire marshal to review high fire hazard severity zones every five years (committee accepted an amendment to restore the author’s requested five‑year cycle) and the committee advanced the bill to appropriations.
Assemblymember Lackey presented AB 300, which would require the State Fire Marshal (Cal Fire referenced in testimony) to review areas designated as fire hazard severity zones (FHSZ) on a fixed schedule — amended in committee to a five‑year review cycle.
Lackey said current zone maps use factors such as fuel, slope and fire weather, but are updated irregularly and often only after a major fire. He argued that a statutory schedule will help communities and insurers by ensuring maps reflect current conditions, noting maps influence evacuation planning and insurance risk assessments.
Julie Malinowski Ball of the California Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire Districts Association of California testified in strong support and said frequent, science‑based updates are essential “as wildfire risk continues to increase.” League of California Cities also registered support.
Committee members discussed the timeline and agreed to restore a five‑year review period (the Natural Resources Committee earlier had proposed an eight‑year interval); the committee moved AB 300 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations and left the roll open for additional votes.
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