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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 904

Recovery from a state of emergency.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (13)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:01 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 25, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB904 Seyarto et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 24, 2026
House		SB 904 Seyarto Senate Third Reading By LackeypassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 29, 2026
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 10, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management]passSet your home in California to see
May 18, 2026
Senate		3rd Reading SB904 Seyarto et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
Senate		Do passpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 27, 2026
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 14, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Mar 17, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management]passSet your home in California to see

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