California Senate Republicans today announced their Wildfire Risk Reduction and Affordability legislative package; six bills aimed at forcing the state to keep track of the health impacts and costs of wildfire smoke, reducing the costs of preparing for wildfires, and assisting Californians to rebuild their homes quickly, safely and affordably when the worst occurs.
The bills are SB 899 (Grove, R-Bakersfield), SB 904 (Seyarto, R-Murrieta), SB 1084, SB 1118 and SB 1162 (all Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson) and SB 1343 (Dahle, R-Bieber).
“We need solutions that put prevention, resilience and financial recovery first,” said Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson). “Californians with homes in high-risk areas are often being forced into the state’s FAIR Plan, last-resort insurance offering partial insurance at increasingly higher costs and providing little to no ability to reduce their premiums. That’s a bandage, not a solution.”
Research has found that 43% fewer homes were destroyed when built to wildfire-resistant standards in a large sample of California wildfires. Offering tax credits to reduce the cost to homeowners of hardening and protecting their homes from wildfires will enable more people to get better insurance coverage, ultimately protecting more people, homes and communities.
“We must make it easier and more efficient to rebuild homes after a wildfire,” said Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), the Vice Chair of the newly formed Senate Emergency Committee. “Families should not face unnecessary delays and bureaucratic hurdles when trying to rebuild their lives. We must ensure that state and local agencies move quickly, coordinate effectively, and focus on clearing the path for families to recover and rebuild.”
“If California isn’t monitoring the harm caused by polluting wildfires in this state, it is quite simply blowing smoke when they claim they’re making progress,” said Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). “We need to take this issue very seriously and help protect our residents who are now dealing with a longer, and worse, wildfire season.”
A recent study found that even a few days of excess smoke exposure causes increased mortality, and estimated the increase in wildfire smoke deaths in California would top the nation, with “average annual wildfire smoke mortality rising from almost 2,900 deaths to around 6,700 to 7,900…”
“I’ve had too many constituents – even with good insurance – struggle to rebuild after wildfires as construction costs spiral out of control,” said Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber). “These tax credits will offer concrete savings as families rebuild their lives and homes, helping clear the path toward recovery.”
Similar to offering tax credits to help make it more affordable for homeowners to be better prepared for wildfires, tax credits also can make it more affordable for homeowners to rebuild in the wake of a wildfire. The credits and deductions help reduce taxable income, allowing individuals and small businesses to allocate more funds towards rebuilding efforts.
For more information on Senate Republicans’ Wildfire Risk Reduction and Affordability legislative package, click here.