By: @Anthony Tannehill
Last week, CSDA’s legislative committee held an emergency meeting to discuss an urgent issue regarding wildfire liability that is expected to be proposed in Sacramento in the final two weeks of the legislative session.
The committee chose to oppose certain provisions that are understood to be contemplated by the Governor’s administration and the Legislature. While the language is not yet public, the committee provided guidance to CSDA’s advocates to spotlight the concerns of special districts in any bill or package of bills that may be introduced in the waning days of the 2026 legislative session.
While the proposal may contain some provisions that are advantageous to special districts and the people they serve, there are serious concerns that other proposed provisions may harm the ability of local agencies to serve their constituents and recover from a wildfire.
Specifically, CSDA’s legislative committee has directed CSDA staff to seek to:
- Remove any provision that would limit public entity claims against investor-owned electric utilities following a wildfire to diminution in value for public infrastructure and rather seek full replacement value of any lost or damaged infrastructure.
- Remove any provision that would limit cost-recovery claims against investor-owned electric utilities following a wildfire for emergency response and mutual aid.
- Remove any provision that would limit insurance subrogation for cost-recovery from investor-owned utilities.
- Remove any provision that would limit cost-recovery claims against investor-owned electric utilities following a wildfire of lost local property tax funding.
CSDA will continue to advocate for full cost-recovery in wildfire related proposals this year and will keep its members informed as it develops.
To view CSDA's letter to the Legislature on this proposal, please click here.
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