California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 1079
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: Fire Innovation Unit.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Stern (Democratic)
Cosponsors (6)
- Allen (Democratic)
- Becker (Democratic)
- Bennett (Democratic)
- Irwin (Democratic)
- Petrie-Norris (Democratic)
- Rogers (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
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.
Text versions
- 09/29/26 - Chaptered· Sep 29, 2026
- 09/08/26 - Enrolled· Sep 8, 2026
- 08/28/26 - Amended Assembly· Aug 28, 2026
- 08/27/26 - Amended Assembly· Aug 27, 2026
- 08/21/26 - Amended Assembly· Aug 21, 2026
- 04/28/26 - Amended Senate· Apr 28, 2026
- 02/13/26 - Introduced· Feb 13, 2026
- SB1079
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 House | SB 1079 Stern Senate Third Reading By Connolly | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 31, 2026 Senate | W/O REF. TO FILE | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 26, 2026 House | Amendments (Committee's) | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 26, 2026 House | Do pass as amended. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 13, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 29, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 22, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 22, 2026 Senate | Special Consent SB1079 Stern et al. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 14, 2026 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 11, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 21, 2026 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 7, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 29, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 774, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 29, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 10, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. - Aug 31, 2026 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Aug 31, 2026 · Senate
Unanimous consent granted to take up without reference to file. - Aug 31, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Aug 31, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 7065.) Ordered to the Senate. - Aug 28, 2026 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 28, 2026 · House
Read third time and amended. - Aug 28, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 61(b)(16) suspended. (Ayes 57. Noes 1. Page 6819.) - Aug 28, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 27, 2026 · House
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - Aug 27, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 26). - Aug 25, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a) suspended. - Aug 24, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on E.M pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2. - Aug 21, 2026 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 21, 2026 · House
Read third time and amended. - Aug 21, 2026 · House
Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.) - Aug 13, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13). - Aug 13, 2026 · House
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. - Aug 5, 2026 · House
August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. - Jun 30, 2026 · House
From 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. - Jun 23, 2026 · House
From 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. - Jun 1, 2026 · House
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.M. - May 22, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - May 22, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 4418.) Ordered to the Assembly. - May 20, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to special consent calendar. - May 14, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 14, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4264.) (May 14). - May 12, 2026 · Senate
Set for hearing May 14. - May 11, 2026 · Senate
May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. - May 4, 2026 · Senate
Set for hearing May 11. - Apr 28, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 27, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3972.) (April 21). - Apr 10, 2026 · Senate
Set for hearing April 21. - Apr 8, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3758.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on E.M. - Mar 24, 2026 · Senate
Set for hearing April 7. - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.M. - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16. - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.