LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

2025 CPF Sponsored Bills

AB 1383 (McKinnor): Retirement Reform

The Public Employee Pension Reform Act of 2012 (PEPRA) set forth significant changes to the retirement system that impacted all public employees. Now, 13 years later we have seen the impacts of PEPRA and identified necessary changes to protect public employees. As a result, CPF is working with Assemblymember McKinnor on thoughtful reforms to reduce the safety retirement age, adjust formulas, make some elements of PEPRA subject to bargaining and address the compensation cap. With firefighting labeled as a known carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it is clear that we need to ensure our policies meet the needs of those sworn to protect us.

Status: Designated as a two-year bill by the Assembly Appropriations Committee

Following the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file hearing on May 23rd, AB 1383 has been turned into a two-year bill that will be eligible for further consideration in January of 2026. While we are disappointed in this delay, the fight is far from over; we are continuing to work to move these needed retirement security changes forward. CPF’s team will spend the next several months working diligently to build support to advance AB 1383 out of the Appropriations Committee next year and through the rest of the legislative process.

AB 1181 (Haney): Prohibit PFAS in Firefighter Turnouts

Following the recent adoption of NFPA 1970, this legislation will provide authority to Cal OSHA to adopt a more protective standard than what is outlined by NFPA. This more protective standard will ensure that PPE is free not only of PFAS but also regrettable substitutes, such as brominated flame retardants, that may be used by manufacturers as a replacement.

Status: Referred to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee

AB 841 (Patel): Lithium-ion Battery Health and Safety

CPF members are continually responding to fires involving lithium-ion batteries, whether they are vehicles, homes, or large energy storage systems. After a series of injuries, it is clear that more assessment and recommendations are needed on updates to personal protective equipment (PPE), PPE cleaning practices, and health screening when it comes to response to these fires and post-fire practices. This measure will direct the Office of the State Fire Marshal to bring together experts to make recommendations on these core issues in order to enhance protections for firefighters.

Status: Referred to Senate Governmental Organization Committee

AB 1075 (Bryan): Privately Contracted Private Fire Prevention Resources: Public Water Supply

Recent reports have indicated that during the fires in Los Angeles County privately contracted private fire prevention resources may have accessed public water supplies. This measure would direct the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to update existing regulations for these resources to include a prohibition on them accessingpublic water supply through fire hydrants. This is needed in order to maintain access for public fire agencies during an emergency incident. Fire response is a public good and must be protected.

Status: Referred to Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee

SB 230 (Laird): Expand Workers' Compensation Presumptions to Include DOD and Industrial Locals

The existing workers’ compensation presumptions do not consistently apply to both federal and industrial locals. SB 230 will close the gap that currently exists for federal firefighters as well as firefighters employed at NASA installations and airports. This measure will ensure that all firefighters who are injured in the line of duty have access to these important protections.

Status: Status: Referred to Assembly Insurance Committee

SB 301 (Grayson): Preventing 1937 Act Exclusions

This measure ensures that agencies that contract with 1937 Act retirement systems are not able to exclude certain classes of employees from their pension plan. This measure extends the protections enacted by AB 2967 (O’Donnell, 2020) that only applied to CalPERS.

Status: Referred to Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee

SB 283 (Laird): Battery Energy Storage Facilities

Given the recent increase in battery energy storage facility fires, it is clear that policy action is necessary. CPF is collaborating with the IBEW to strengthen the statewide permitting process at the California Energy Commission. This bill will require all facilities meet NFPA 855, require that project applicants meet and confer with fire agencies, and require fire inspections be a part of the proposed project.

Status: Referred to Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee

AB 612 (Rogers): Safe and Effective Apparatus Movement

In recent years, several jurisdictions across the state have implemented policies that create additional consideration of road design elements such as roundabouts, curb extensions, lane narrowing, bike lanes and other structures. There are several examples of these projects creating impediments for apparatus movement and delays in response times. As a result, this measure provides direction to local governments to coordinate with fire agencies to ensure that road design elements are coordinated with the need for effective and efficient emergency response.

Status: Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee

SB 691 (Wahab): Protecting Patient Privacy

This measure will create policy around the use of body cameras to record medical and psychiatric evaluations performed by EMTs and paramedics. As a covered provider under HIPAA, EMTs and paramedics are responsible for the reasonable protection of their patients’ private health information until the transfer of their care. The recording of medical or psychological treatment and assessment presents a serious breach of this privacy, compounded by the data retention policies of the agencies in question and the applicability of the California Public Records Act to such recordings.

Status: Designated as a two-year bill by the Senate Appropriations Committee