CaliforniaCalifornia would strengthen rules for fireworks storage and violations
California would count most untested fireworks as dangerous and strengthen local oversight of fireworks storage, including yearly inspections and higher possible fines.
What it does
Untested fireworks would count as dangerous fireworks, except while an approval application is pending. The bill also broadens which materials supplied to make fireworks count as a kit.
Fireworks licensees would have to report storage sites and required permits. Local agencies would inspect each site at least once a year and could suspend a local permit until unsafe conditions are fixed.
Cities and counties could set fireworks-infraction fines up to $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second, and $5,000 for later ones. The State Fire Marshal could suspend a license for up to 90 days during an investigation.
Argument forRegular local inspections and authority to correct unsafe storage could help agencies find fireworks hazards before they cause harm.
Argument againstBroader grounds to deny licenses and longer suspensions without a hearing could leave applicants and licensees with fewer ways to keep operating.
More detail
The State Fire Marshal must treat untested fireworks as dangerous fireworks and may treat kits intended to become fireworks as fireworks kits. A fireworks kit includes materials or parts supplied together or separately by the same supplier for the buyer to combine into a fireworks device. Fireworks with a pending application for approval are excluded from the untested-fireworks rule.
The State Fire Marshal must collect storage-site information from licensees and notify local officials; local agencies must inspect sites at least yearly and may suspend local permits for unsafe conditions. The rules cover fireworks wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, and exporters, and local agencies with jurisdiction over their facilities or storage sites. Covered license holders must provide applicable local permits or entitlements, federal explosives-license documentation, and storage-site information when required by regulation. A license applicant who fails to provide required information may be denied a license, and a licensee may have a license revoked. Local agencies may charge reasonable fees to recover costs of permit administration, inspections, and enforcement. Applicants must list California storage sites on their initial application and report new, moved, or closed sites. The State Fire Marshal will set when licensees must provide other required documents.
Cities and counties may set higher maximum fines for fireworks infractions; the State Fire Marshal may suspend a license for up to 90 days while investigating. These fine limits apply to fireworks violations made infractions under city or county ordinances. The license-suspension authority applies to State Fire Marshal fireworks licenses. For a second violation, the higher fine applies to another violation of the same ordinance within five years of the first; the same five-year period applies to additional violations. The five-year repeat-violation period runs from the first violation. A license suspension may begin with three days’ notice and last up to 90 days while an investigation is pending.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 652, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 8Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 30Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB828 Cabaldon et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 27From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 6045.)Minor
- Vote recorded That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on E.M. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 5823.) Re-referred to Com. on E.M.Minor
- Aug 26Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).Minor
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 828 Cabaldon Senate Third Reading By Aguiar-Curry. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6492.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Major
- Jun 16From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 15).Major
- Jun 15
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Referred to Coms. on E.M and L. GOV.Minor
- Jan 26In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB828 Cabaldon et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 3283.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Jan 22Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 22From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3270.) (January 22).Minor
- Jan 21Set for hearing January 22.
- Jan 20January 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 15Set for hearing January 20.
- Jan 14From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3225.) (January 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 14. Noes 0. Page 3213.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 7Set for hearing January 14 in L. GOV. pending receipt.
- Jan 6Set for hearing January 13.
- Jan 5Re-referred to Coms. on G.O. and L. GOV.Minor
- Jan 5From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- 2025
- Sep 12Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Sep 12Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Sep 11From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Major
- Sep 11Senate Rule 29.3(b) suspended. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2934.)
- Apr 24Set for hearing April 30.
- Apr 23April 23 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Apr 4Set for hearing April 23.
- Apr 2Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Mar 26From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Mar 12Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 24From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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