SB 904: Recovery from a state of emergency.

Official summary

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

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency, including, but not limited to, suspending specified statutes, ordinances, orders, regulations, or rules.

This bill would impose specific duties on the Department of Housing and Community Development if the Office of Emergency Services makes a written determination, within 10 days after the date that the Governor declared a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, that the wildfire caused substantial structural damage requiring significant rebuilding efforts, as defined. The bill would require the department, under this condition, to consult with other specified state entities and local governments to identify state permitting requirements and local procedures that could be suspended or revised to support recovery and rebuilding efforts as a result of the wildfire, as specified. The bill would require the department to prepare and submit initial and periodic reports to the Governor and Legislature with the information and recommendations.

This bill, on or before July 1, 2028, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with other specified state entities, to convene a workgroup to review and provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations regarding any provision of the California Building Standards Code that should be suspended for specified types of projects to facilitate rapid, safe, disaster-resilient, and cost-effective rebuilding and recovery guidance for any future state of emergency. The bill would require the workgroup to review and update the report to the Governor and Legislature after the release of every update to the California Building Standards Code.

This bill, starting January 1, 2028, would require, upon the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, every state agency or political subdivision, as defined, involved in postdisaster response, debris removal, reconstruction, housing, or land-use permitting to accept electronic submission of any application, form, plan set, appeal, or request for state agency or political subdivision action related to recovery efforts for that state of emergency, as provided. By imposing new duties on local agencies, the 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, 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 2 · Republican 12

“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. September 29, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 771, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 29, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 30, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
4. August 25, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 24, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 71. Noes 1. Page 6389.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).
9. August 13, 2026Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
10. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
11. July 1, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. June 30, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 29).