Sacramento, CA – In response to the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris has introduced AB 2513, legislation to modernize California’s wildfire prevention strategy and better protect communities across the state.
Wildfires have become a persistent and growing threat across California. Over the past decade, more than half of the 20 largest and most destructive wildfires in state history have burned millions of acres and destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses. Despite this risk, existing state law primarily focuses wildfire prevention efforts on forested areas—leaving high-risk shrubland and chaparral regions, especially in Southern California, without adequate access to funding and resources.
AB 2513 addresses this gap by updating state law to include chaparral and shrubland ecosystems in wildfire prevention and forest health programs. The bill also expands the state’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to support regional, landscape-scale wildfire mitigation efforts and improve access to local assistance grants.
“Wildfires have become one of California’s most persistent challenges over the past decade, destroying tens of thousands of homes and businesses,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine). “AB 2513 ensures regional entities can access state grants to reduce wildfire risks in non-forested areas, including Southern California’s shrub and chaparral landscapes. We can’t wait for the next disaster to strike—this bill helps us get ahead of it and keep our communities safe.”
"In Southern California's chaparral landscapes, the best fire is the one that never starts," said Michael O'Connell, President & CEO, Irvine Ranch Conservancy. "Much of our wildfire risk comes from ignitions along roadsides and power lines during extreme wind events. Yet State funding and policy have largely focused on forests and large-scale vegetation removal—strategies that do little to prevent the fast-moving firestorms we experienced in 2025. This bill would better align state investments with the realities on the ground, helping protect communities and making our region more resilient."
AB 2513 is sponsored by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and is supported by a broad coalition of organizations, including the Sierra Business Council, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, California Special Districts Association, California State Association of Counties, League of California Cities, County of Orange, Orange County Fire Authority, Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, Escondido Creek Conservancy, Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council, Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council, Tijuana Estuary Foundation, and Save the Redwoods League.
The bill passed the Assembly Natural Resources and Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife committees with unanimous support and is currently pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
###
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris represents California’s 73rd District including Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Tustin. She is the Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee. She is also a member of the Budget Committee; Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee; Insurance Committee; and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. After working her way through Yale University, where she double majored in Economics and English, Cottie had a successful 20-year career in finance and technology. She helped to build businesses and led teams at Fortune 500 corporations, small companies and start-ups. Follow the Assemblywoman on Instagram (@asmcottie) and Facebook (AssemblywomanCPN).