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SB 1079STATE · CaliforniaIntroduced

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: Fire Innovation Unit.

Existing law establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and establishes various programs for the prevention and reduction of wildfires. This bill, which would be operative until January 1, 2033, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the Fire Innovation Unit within the department to serve as the department's innovation arm for wildfire technology research, coordination, procurement, and deployment for technologies that, among other things, improve ecosystem and landscape scale resilience. The bill would require the unit to consist of the Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development, the Innovation, Outreach and Coordination Program, and the Rapid Acquisition and Deployment Program, as provided. The bill would authorize the unit to establish and administer a program to fund early-stage, mature, or dual-use technology projects that enhance wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and response through grants, contracts, or both. The bill would also authorize the unit to (1) administer or monitor pilot, prototype, or demonstration projects to evaluate, mature, and validate wildfire-related technologies, (2) collaborate with public and private educational and research institutions on wildfire technology and innovation, (3) establish testbeds to test or evaluate emerging technologies, (4) provide technical assistance to local, state, federal, and international fire agencies to facilitate deployment of wildfire-related technologies, (5) maintain a publicly accessible resource to provide visibility into these wildfire-related technologies, and (6) provide opportunities for participation in demonstrations, pilot programs, and field testing, as provided. This bill would require the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature summarizing certain information related to the unit, including, among other things, the technologies and projects evaluated, tested, or deployed.

Voted 9/10/2026View source

Roll-call record

How representatives voted

0 yea·0 nay

No roll-call votes recorded for this bill yet.

Docket history

Action history

  1. 6/30/2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  2. 6/23/2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
  3. 6/1/2026Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.M.
  4. 5/22/2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
  5. 5/22/2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 4418.) Ordered to the Assembly.
  6. 5/20/2026Ordered to special consent calendar.
  7. 5/14/2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  8. 5/14/2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4264.) (May 14).
  9. 5/12/2026Set for hearing May 14.
  10. 5/11/2026May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.