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AB-336 • 2026

Criminal penalties: wildfires.

Criminal penalties: wildfires.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Wallis
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how much money local agencies and school districts will save or spend due to these changes.

Making Wildfire Crimes Always Felonies

AB-336 changes the punishment for starting wildfires due to recklessness or causing great harm to be only a felony, with fines up to $10,000.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that anyone who starts a wildfire by being reckless will face felony charges.
  • Makes sure that if someone's actions cause great bodily injury or property damage during a fire, they are charged as a felony.
  • Sets a maximum fine of $10,000 for these crimes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who start wildfires by being reckless or causing great harm.
  • Local agencies and school districts that do not have to be reimbursed by the state for costs related to enforcing these laws.

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can lead to a long prison sentence.
Reckless
Not being careful and not thinking about the possible bad results of your actions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money local agencies will save or spend because of these changes.
  • It is unclear if this law will prevent more wildfires from happening.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).

  2. 2025-03-04 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage.

  3. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  4. 2025-01-29 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 28.

  5. 2025-01-28 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 336, as introduced, Wallis.
Criminal penalties: wildfires.
Existing law prohibits unlawfully causing a fire by recklessly setting fire to, burning, or causing to be burned, any structure, forest land, or property. A violation of this prohibition that causes great bodily injury, that causes an inhabited structure or property to burn, or that causes a fire of a structure or forest land is punishable either as a felony or a misdemeanor.
This bill would make the above-described violations punishable only as a felony including a fine not to exceed $10,000. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF