SB-1404 • 2026

Wildfire prevention: state responsibility areas: fire prevention fee.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Stern
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the fee amount or future adjustments, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Wildfire Prevention Fee for State Responsibility Areas

This law reinstates a fire prevention fee starting January 1, 2027, to help prevent wildfires in certain areas and extends the program indefinitely.

What This Bill Does

Reinstates the fire prevention fee starting January 1, 2027.
The fee is charged on each habitable structure within state responsibility areas.
Money from the fee goes into a special fund to pay for activities that stop wildfires.
Removes the specific repeal date of January 1, 2031.

Who It Names or Affects

People who own houses or buildings in state responsibility areas.

Terms To Know

State Responsibility Area: An area where the government is responsible for preventing wildfires.
Fire Prevention Fee: A fee charged to help pay for activities that stop wildfires from happening.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much the fee will be or if it can change.
It is unclear what happens after January 1, 2031, when the old program was set to end.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and REV. & TAX.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2026-03-31 California Legislative Information
April 7 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1404, as amended, Stern.
Wildfire prevention: state responsibility areas: fire prevention fee.
Existing law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, on or before September 1, 2011, to adopt emergency regulations to establish a fire prevention fee in an amount not to exceed $150 to be charged on each habitable structure on a parcel that is within a state responsibility area, as specified, and authorizes the board to annually adjust the fire prevention fee using prescribed methods.
Existing law requires that the fire prevention fees collected, except as provided, be deposited into the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and be made available to the board and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for certain specified fire prevention activities that benefit the owners of habitable structures in state responsibility areas
who are required to pay the fee.
Existing law, effective July 1, 2017, suspends the fire prevention fee and requires any moneys held in reserve in the fund to be appropriated by the Legislature in a manner consistent with the purposes of the fund.
Existing law repeals the fire prevention fee program on January 1, 2031.
This bill would reinstate the fire prevention fee effective January 1,
2027, subject to the January 1, 2031, repeal.
2027. The bill would delete the repeal date of the above-described provisions, thereby extending the operation of those
provisions indefinitely.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF