SB 1041: Voluntary contractual assessments: wildfire safety improvements.

The bill aims to extend the operation of wildfire safety finance provisions and modify the requirements for establishing a voluntary contractual assessment program. A public agency can establish a program to finance wildfire safety improvements, including permanent wildfire resilience and safety improvements, without having to accept a designation of very high fire hazard severity zone. Property owners can enter into voluntary contractual assessments with the agency to finance these improvements, which can include projects such as rebuilding or reconstructing property, or installing improvements to defensible space zones 1 and 2. The program can include projects that are in addition to or an improvement to the property as it existed before it was destroyed or damaged by fire. The program will be repaid through voluntary contractual assessments, which will constitute a lien against the p…