AB-270 • 2026

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting pilot project.

Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Petrie-Norris
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on funding or specific goals for the pilot project beyond assessing feasibility and performance.

Autonomous Firefighting Pilot Project

This law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to start a pilot project to assess whether an autonomous firefighting helicopter can be used operationally in California.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot project to assess whether a firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology can be transitioned into operational use.
Invites local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in familiarization and training activities related to the new technology.
Requires the department to convene leading fire professionals within 60 days of completing the pilot project or by January 1, 2029, to assess its performance.
Requires operators of autonomous aerial suppression technology in the test program to share reports with local and federal agencies as well as the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies
Leading fire professionals in California

Terms To Know

Autonomous firefighting helicopter: A helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology that can fight fires without a human pilot inside.
Pilot project: A small-scale test to see if something new works well before using it widely.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be used for the pilot project.
It is unclear what specific outcomes or goals are set for the pilot project beyond assessing feasibility and performance.
There is no mention of who will fund the training activities for local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-05-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 1).
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2025-04-03 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.M and P. & C.P.
2025-01-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.
2025-01-21 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 270, as amended, Petrie-Norris.
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: autonomous firefighting pilot project.
Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, to, among other things, provide fire prevention and firefighting implements and apparatus and organize fire crews and patrols, as provided.
This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a pilot project to
equip the state with the nation’s first testbed
assess whether a
firefighting helicopter equipped with autonomous aerial suppression technology
and the associated configuration, familiarization, and training activities to transition the aircraft
can be transitioned
into operational
use.
use in the State of California.
The bill would also require the department to invite local, state, tribal, and federal fire agencies to participate in those familiarization and training activities. The bill would require the department to convene, within 60 days of completion of the pilot project,
or January 1, 2029, whichever comes first,
leading fire professionals in California to assess the performance of the pilot project and, if the pilot project meets its objectives, determine how to incorporate autonomous aerial suppression technology into existing state wildfire mitigation efforts.
The bill would require an operator of autonomous aerial suppression technology that is part of the pilot project and that is required to submit reports to local or federal agencies about autonomous aerial suppression technology to also provide those reports to the department and the Legislature, as provided.
The bill would include related legislative findings.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF