Newsom Signs Murrieta Lawmaker's Bill That Expedites Rebuilding After Wildfires

SACRAMENTO, CA — A Murrieta lawmaker's bill that aims to speed up the rebuilding process for victims of catastrophic wildfires across California was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Senate Bill 904, introduced by Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, establishes a standardized statewide framework to streamline local permitting and improve interagency coordination following major wildfire disasters.

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The bipartisan legislation, signed by the governor on Sept. 29, builds on measures implemented after the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, where an executive order sought to issue rebuilding permits within 30 days. SB 904 expands those principles statewide, ensuring that all communities affected by future blazes have access to expedited recovery protocols.

"Having spent 35 years in the fire service, I know firsthand the devastation wildfires can leave behind," Seyarto said Monday in a statement. "When a wildfire destroys a home or an entire neighborhood, families should be able to focus on rebuilding their homes and their lives, not navigating unnecessary government bureaucracy."

Under the new law, whenever the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services determines a wildfire has caused substantial structural damage, the Department of Housing and Community Development must coordinate with state and local officials to identify and suspend burdensome permitting rules or building standards that delay reconstruction.

The measure also mandates that starting in 2028, state and local agencies handling wildfire recovery must accept digital submissions for rebuilding applications and architectural plans.

Despite late pushback from state housing officials who sought to narrow the bill's scope, Seyarto preserved the broader language before sending the bill to the governor's desk.

Seyarto represents California's 32nd Senate District, which includes the cities and communities of Aguanga, Anza, Borrego Springs, Canyon Lake, Chino Hills, Corona, El Sobrante, French Valley, Homeland, Julian, La Cresta, Lake Elsinore, Lake Mathews, Lakeland Village, Menifee, Murrieta, Norco, Sage, Temecula, Temescal Valley, Wildomar, Winchester, Woodcrest, Yorba Linda, and parts of Riverside.