State employees: compensation: firefighters.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is currently vetoed by the governor. It remains uncertain whether lawmakers will override this veto.

Firefighters' Pay: AB-1309

AB-1309 sets rules for how much California firefighters should be paid based on what other fire departments pay similar workers.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the state to pay firefighters within 15% of the average salary for corresponding ranks in 20 listed California fire departments.
• Needs the Department of Human Resources and State Bargaining Unit 8 to survey these departments each year for average salaries.
• Asks the Department of Human Resources to report on fire chief salaries from five listed departments by January 1, 2027.
• Says that when deciding pay for firefighters, the state must look at what similar ranks earn in comparable jurisdictions and other factors like internal comparisons.
• Requires any salary increases for firefighters under these rules to be agreed upon through a memorandum of understanding.

Who It Names or Affects

• Firefighters who are rank-and-file members of State Bargaining Unit 8 employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
• The Department of Human Resources, which will conduct surveys and report on salaries.
• State Bargaining Unit 8's exclusive representative.

Terms To Know

State Bargaining Unit 8

A group that represents firefighters in negotiations with the state for better working conditions and pay.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

An agreement between two parties, like the state and a union, outlining terms they both agree to follow.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was vetoed by the governor on January 22, 2026. Lawmakers may try to override this veto later.
• It is not clear if there will be any changes or overrides after the veto.

Official Summary Text

AB 1309, Flora.
State employees: compensation: firefighters.
Existing law provides that in order for the state to recruit skilled firefighters for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it is the policy of the state to consider prevailing salaries and benefits prior to making salary recommendations. Existing law requires the Department of Human Resources, in order to provide comparability in pay, to take into consideration the salary and benefits of other jurisdictions employing 75 or more full-time firefighters who work in California.
This bill would require the state to pay firefighters who are rank-and-file members of State Bargaining Unit 8, employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, within 15% of the average salary for corresponding ranks in 20 listed California fire departments. The bill would require the state and the exclusive representative for State
Bargaining Unit 8 to jointly survey annually and calculate the estimated average salaries for those fire departments. The bill would also require the Department of Human Resources, on or before January 1, 2027, to conduct and report to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection a cursory survey on the salaries and benefits for the prior year of each of the fire chiefs for 5 listed California fire departments.
The bill would provide that when determining compensation for uniformed classifications of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it is the policy of the state to consider the salary of corresponding ranks within the comparable jurisdictions listed, as well as other factors, including internal comparisons. The bill would require any salary increase for firefighters under these provisions to be implemented through a memorandum of understanding, in accordance with specified procedures governing collective bargaining agreements. The bill would include
legislative findings and declarations related to its provisions.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF