CaliforniaState agencies would set wildfire contamination standards and guidance
If AB 1795 also takes effect by January 1, 2027, state agencies would set wildfire contamination rules and guidance for homes, schools, and indoor air.
What it does
State toxic-substance officials would set wildfire rules for lead and asbestos, publish guidance on other contaminants, and use specified interim standards for affected homes until the work is complete.
Air-quality officials would publish health and safety guidance for indoor air pollution after wildfire smoke damages homes, with interim advice allowed sooner.
State officials would give schools nonbinding guidance on testing, cleanup, wildfire health risks, and reopening after a wildfire.
Argument forClearer testing and cleanup rules could help residents, workers, and schools make safer decisions after wildfire contamination.
Argument againstExempting the rules and guidance from the usual administrative and environmental review processes could reduce formal review, even though public workshops are required.
More detail
The Department of Toxic Substances Control must create rules for testing, cleanup, and restoration after wildfires, and publish guidance for other listed contaminants. The rules cover lead and asbestos at homes and other appropriate locations after a wildfire. The guidance covers soil, air, and wipe samples for heavy metals, cyanide, lithium, manganese, dioxins and furans, and other listed contaminants. The department must hold a public workshop before adopting the rules and publishing the guidance. The rules and guidance must be based on sufficient scientific evidence, when the department determines that such evidence exists. The standards may not be weaker than other applicable state or federal standards. The rules are due by December 31, 2028, and the contaminant guidance is due by December 31, 2029. Until the rules and related guidance are issued, specified lead and asbestos standards apply to clearance for human occupancy at residential properties in wildfire impact zones.
The State Air Resources Board must publish guidance on indoor air pollution after wildfire smoke damages a residence. The guidance covers indoor air contaminant levels, possible health effects, and steps residents may take to reduce exposure after residential smoke damage from a wildfire. The board may issue interim guidance before the final guidance is due. The board may revise the guidance as new research and data become available. The board must publish the guidance by December 31, 2028, after holding a public workshop.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control must create advisory guidance to help schools manage wildfire hazards and reopening decisions. The guidance applies to schools, school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education after a wildfire. The guidance is advisory and does not create mandatory school requirements. It must address testing, cleanup, hazard information, exposure reduction, reopening decisions, and available recovery resources. The department must develop the school guidance no later than July 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 15Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 239, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 15Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 11Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 10 a.m.To Governor
- Sep 1
- Vote recorded AB 1642 HARABEDIAN Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 61. Noes 1. Page 7054.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1642 Harabedian et al. By Allen. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 31Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 7054.)
- Aug 31In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 31Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 2.).Passed Senate
- Aug 30Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 28Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 22From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 59. Noes 3. Page 5469.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1642 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 22Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5271.)Major
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Mar 11From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (March 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Mar 10
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Mar 2From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.Major
- Feb 9Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.Minor
- Jan 28From printer. May be heard in committee February 27.
- Jan 27Read first time. To print.Introduced
Environment & EnergyEmergency ManagementPublic Safety