Status:
Passed the Senate on May 28, 2026. Received in the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Committees on Emergency Management, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, and Judiciary on June 8, 2026. Amended in the Assembly on June 22, 2026, and re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. Passed the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials on June 30, 2026, and was re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on July 1, 2026.
The bill advanced through its first Assembly policy committee and is now pending before the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
Date of Status:
Last Verified July 14, 2026.
Purpose:
SB 1153 requires urban retail water suppliers in high and very high fire hazard severity zones to update disaster preparedness plans with wildfire-specific response procedures. It establishes minimum planning and mitigation requirements for public water systems to improve wildfire readiness. The bill also clarifies operational expectations for water system preparedness beginning in 2028.
The bill increases wildfire preparedness requirements for water suppliers in designated fire risk zones. Utilities must update emergency response plans, improve coordination with emergency agencies, and meet new mitigation standards. It also provides liability clarity by distinguishing water system operations from direct wildfire damage responsibility during pressure loss or service interruption events.
Funding:
None specified. Implementation costs are expected to be covered by water suppliers and local agencies as part of compliance with updated preparedness requirements.
