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AB-294 • 2026

Recovery from disaster or emergency: funding priority.

Recovery from disaster or emergency: funding priority.

Housing
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Gallagher
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 bill summary and digest do not specify details about how much funding will be allocated or what qualifies as 'unmet recovery needs'.

Funding Priority for Disaster Recovery

This law allows the Office of Emergency Services to prioritize funding and technical assistance for infrastructure and housing recovery projects in communities affected by major disasters, state emergencies, or local emergencies.

What This Bill Does

  • Authorizes the OES to prioritize funding and technical assistance under specified programs for infrastructure and housing recovery projects in disaster-hit areas.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Communities that suffered a loss in population and businesses due to major federal disasters, state of emergency, or local emergencies.
  • The Office of Emergency Services (OES).

Terms To Know

Office of Emergency Services (OES)
A state agency responsible for emergency and disaster response services.
Unmet recovery needs
Needs that have not been addressed or resolved after a disaster.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much funding will be allocated.
  • The bill does not define what qualifies as 'unmet recovery needs'.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  5. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  6. 2025-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.M.

  8. 2025-01-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 23.

  9. 2025-01-23 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 294, as introduced, Gallagher.
Recovery from disaster or emergency: funding priority.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, among other things, creates the Office of Emergency Services (OES), which is responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services, as specified. The OES is under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services. During a state of war emergency, a state of emergency, or a local emergency, existing law requires the director to coordinate the emergency activities of all state agencies in connection with that emergency.
This bill would authorize the OES to prioritize funding and technical assistance under specified programs, including, but not limited to, for infrastructure and housing recovery projects, in communities that suffered a loss in population and businesses due to a major federal disaster, state of emergency, or local emergency and have unmet recovery needs as a
result of a major federal disaster, state of emergency, or local emergency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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