AB 367: Water: County of Ventura: fire suppression.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law provides generally for the regulation of wells, pumping plants, conduits, and streams. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas.

This bill would, beginning July 1, 2030, require a water supplier, as defined, to have access to sufficient backup energy sources to operate critical fire suppression infrastructure, as defined, needed to supply water for at least 24 hours for the purpose of fire suppression in high or very high fire hazard severity zones in the County of Ventura, or to have access to alternative sources of water supplied by a different water supplier or agency that can serve this same purpose of supplying backup water to critical wells and water pumps for 24 hours, as provided. The bill would require the water supplier to take various actions, including annually inspecting critical fire suppression infrastructure and backup energy sources and notifying the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services within 3 business days of any reduction in its water delivery capacity that could substantially hinder firefighting operations or significantly delay the replenishment of reservoirs. The bill would require, if any fire damages and makes uninhabitable more than 10 residential dwellings within the service area of a water supplier, a report be made by the Ventura County Fire Department in cooperation with the water supplier, as specified. By levying new requirements on the Ventura County Fire Department, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for County of Ventura.

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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 13, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 690, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 13, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. September 9, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 1. Page 3104.).
5. September 8, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 2623.).
7. September 4, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. September 3, 2025Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 29, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
11. August 29, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
12. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.