Assembly BillIntroducedHealth and Safety
AB 1863: Fire protection districts: fees: 911 telephone calls.
What AB 1863 does, verified June 15, 2026
<p>This bill aims to prohibit fire protection districts from charging fees to the general public for using 911 emergency telephone numbers, except in specific circumstances.</p> <p>The existing law allows fire protection districts to charge fees for their services, but this bill seeks to restrict such charges to only cover the costs of specific services.</p> <p>The bill would protect the general public from being charged for making 911 calls, ensuring that emergency services remain accessible and affordable for everyone.</p>
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 39. Noes 4. Page 5546.). (2026-05-28)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| May. 28, 2026 | Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 39. Noes 4. Page 5546.). |
| May. 18, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May. 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14). |
| May. 14, 2026 | Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.) |
| May. 13, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 27, 2026 · 682 words
| Amended IN Assembly April 27, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1863
| Introduced by Assembly Member DeMaio |
February 11, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 13916 of, and to add Section 13916.5 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire protection districts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1863, as amended, DeMaio. Fire protection districts: fees: 911 telephone calls.
Existing law authorizes a fire protection district board to charge a fee to cover the cost of any service the district provides, as specified.
This bill would prohibit a fire protection district board from charging a fee to any member of the public for use of using a 911 emergency telephone number, number or for emergency responders arriving at a location or otherwise responding to the use of a 911 emergency telephone number, except as provided.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 13916 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:13916.
(a) Except as provided in Section 13916.5, a district board may charge a fee to cover the cost of any service that the district provides or the cost of enforcing any regulation for which the fee is charged. A fee shall not exceed the costs reasonably borne by the district in providing the service or enforcing the regulation for which the fee is charged. A district board shall not charge a fee on new construction or development for the construction of public improvements or facilities or the acquisition of equipment.(b) The district board shall adopt an ordinance establishing a schedule of fees. Before either approving an increase in an existing fee or initially imposing a new fee, the district board shall publish notice of its intention to establish a schedule of fees pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, including a general explanation of the matter to be considered, and a statement that the data required by subdivision (d) is available.
(c) The district board shall mail the notice of the meeting at least 14 days before the meeting to any interested party who has filed a written request with the district board for mailed notice of the meeting on new or increased fees. Any written request for mailed notice is valid for one year from the date that it is filed unless a renewal request is filed. Renewal requests for mailed notice shall be filed on or before April 1 of each year. The district board may establish a reasonable annual charge for sending these notices based on the estimated cost of providing that service.
(d) At least 10 days before the meeting, the district board shall make available to the public, data indicating the amount of cost, or estimated cost, required to provide the service or the cost of enforcing any regulation for which the fee is charged and the revenue sources anticipated to provide the service or the cost of enforcing any regulation, including general fund revenues.
(e) Any costs incurred by a district in conducting the meeting required by this section may be recovered from fees charged for the service or the cost of enforcing any regulation which were the subject of the meeting.
(f) At the meeting, the district board shall hear and consider any objections or protests to the proposed schedule of fees.
SEC. 2.
Section 13916.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:13916.5.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 13916, a district board shall not charge a fee to any member of the public for(1) Using a 911
emergency telephone number.(2) Emergency responders arriving at a location or otherwise responding to the use of a 911 emergency telephone number unless emergency services are provided.
(b) This section does not apply prohibit a district board from charging a fee to a member of the public for use of a 911 emergency telephone number for a prank call.
Text of AB 1863 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions