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California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill

SB 234: Wildfires: workgroup: toxic heavy metals.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 234 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on January 28, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Wildfires: workgroup: toxic heavy metals. Primary sponsor: Roger Niello (R). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (August 29, 2025): August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

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

Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to do certain things with respect to fire prevention, including organizing fire crews and patrols.

This bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with specified entities, to form a workgroup related to exposure to toxic heavy metals after a wildfire. The bill would require the workgroup to do certain things, including establishing best practices and recommendations for wildfire-impacted communities, first responders, and other personnel engaged in wildfire response and cleanup to avoid exposure to heavy metals after a wildfire, including outreach. The bill would authorize the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to contract with public universities, research institutions, and other technical experts to support the work of the workgroup. The bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control to report their findings to the Legislature not more than 3 years after the convening of the first meeting of the workgroup.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Roger NielloPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate6
Benjamin AllenCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate24

“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. August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
  2. July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
  3. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  4. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
  5. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
  6. Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.S & T.M.
  7. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
  8. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 1282.) Ordered to the Assembly.
  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  10. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
  11. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1192.) (May 23).
  12. Set for hearing May 23.

Sources

  1. California Legislative Information — pubinfo database export
  2. Official bill page