AB 2075: Forestry: safety requirements: fire equipment: internal combustion engines.
<p>The bill amends forestry safety requirements in California, focusing on fire equipment and internal combustion engines used near specified lands during burning permit seasons.</p> <p>It changes existing law to require individuals operating machinery or tools powered by internal combustion engines to maintain at least one backpack pump-type fire extinguisher and a sufficient number of round point shovels within 25 feet of the operation area, ensuring unrestricted access for operators. The bill defines "person" broadly to include various legal entities.</p> <p>The bill also mandates that individuals operating motorized vehicles on these lands must have a serviceable shovel and fire extinguisher in or affixed to the vehicle.</p> <p>For timber operations, it requires the state board of forestry to adopt emergency regulations defining key terms and specifying necessary firefighting tools.…
| Sep. 29, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 766, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 29, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 24, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6397.). |
| Aug. 19, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 4427 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4427.
(a) (1) During any time of the year when burning permits are required in an area pursuant to this article, a person shall not use or operate any motor, engine, boiler, stationary equipment, welding equipment, cutting torches, tarpots, or grinding devices from which a spark, fire, or flame may originate, which is located on or near any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land, without doing both of the following:SEC. 2.
Section 4428 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4428.
(a) (1) A person shall not use or operate a vehicle, machine, tool, or equipment powered by an internal combustion engine operated on hydrocarbon fuels in an industrial operation located on or near a forest, brush, or grass-covered land between April 1 and December 1 of any year, or at any other time when ground litter and vegetation will sustain combustion permitting the spread of fire, without providing and maintaining, for firefighting purposes only, suitable and serviceable tools in the amounts, manner, and location prescribed in this section.SEC. 3.
Section 4430 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4430.
(a) During any time of the year when burning permits are required in an area pursuant to this article, a natural person, partnership, firm, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity shall not use or operate in the area a steam-operated engine, machine equipment, mill, or industrial plant, located on or near forest-covered land or brush-covered land, without providing one adequate force pump or water under pressure equivalent to a pump, and not less than 200 feet of hose not less than one inch in diameter for each steam-operated engine or equipment. The pump or water pressure required pursuant to this section shall be capable of applying a minimum of 40 pounds pressure at the nozzle on 200 feet of hose, such nozzle to be one-fourth inch or larger in diameter. If two steam-operated engines or steam equipment are customarily operated within 100 feet of each other, only one engine or piece of equipment need be equipped with pump and hose.SEC. 4.
Section 4431 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4431.
(a) During any time of the year when burning permits are required in an area pursuant to this article, a person shall not use or operate or cause to be operated in the area a portable saw, auger, drill, tamper, or other portable tool powered by a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine on or near any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land, within 25 feet of any flammable material, without providing and maintaining at the immediate locations of use or operation of the saw or tool, for firefighting purposes, one serviceable round point shovel, with an overall length of not less than 46 inches, or one serviceable fire extinguisher. The Director of Forestry and Fire Protection shall by administrative regulation specify the type and size of fire extinguisher necessary to provide at least minimum assurance of controlling fire caused by use of portable power tools under various climatic and fuel conditions.SEC. 5.
Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4442.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not use, operate, or allow to be used or operated, an internal combustion engine that uses hydrocarbon fuels on any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land unless the engine is equipped with a spark arrester, as defined in subdivision (c), maintained in effective working order, or the engine is constructed, equipped, and maintained for the prevention of fire pursuant to Section 4443.SEC. 5.5.
Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4442.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not use, operate, or allow to be used or operated, an internal combustion engine that uses hydrocarbon fuels on any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land unless the engine is equipped with a spark arrester, as defined in subdivision (c), maintained in effective working order, or the engine is constructed, equipped, and maintained for the prevention of fire pursuant to Section 4443.SEC. 6.
Section 4442.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4442.5.
(a) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, lease, or rent to a person an internal combustion engine subject to Section 4442 or 4443, and not subject to Section 13005 of the Health and Safety Code, unless the person provides a written notice to the purchaser or bailee, at the time of sale or at the time of entering into the lease or rental contract, stating that it is a violation of Section 4442 or 4443 to use or operate the engine on any forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land unless the engine is equipped with a spark arrester, as defined in Section 4442, maintained in effective working order, or the engine is constructed, equipped, and maintained for the prevention of fire pursuant to Section 4443.SEC. 7.
Section 4442.6 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4442.6.
(a) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, lease, or rent to a person any equipment that is powered by an internal combustion engine subject to Section 4442 or 4443, and not subject to Section 13005 of the Health and Safety Code, unless that equipment has a permanent warning label attached that is in plain view to the operator that states, “WARNING—Operation of This Equipment May Create Sparks That Can Start Fires Around Dry Vegetation. A Spark Arrestor May be Required. The Operator Should Contact Local Fire Agencies For Laws or Regulations Relating to Fire Prevention Requirements.”SEC. 8.
Section 4443 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4443.
(a) A person shall not use, operate, or cause to be operated on any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land any handheld portable, multiposition, internal combustion engine manufactured after June 30, 1978, that is operated on hydrocarbon fuels, unless it is constructed and equipped and maintained for the prevention of fire.SEC. 9.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.SEC. 10.
Section 5.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 1167. That section of this bill shall become operative only if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2027, (2) each bill amends Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 1167, in which case Section 5 of this bill shall not become operative.