Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission

The law adds fire, insurance, and climate-planning expertise to statewide seismic-safety planning. It also authorizes recommendations to reduce post-earthquake fire and infrastructure risks through 2030.

What the law does ​

• Expands the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission to 17 members, including representatives of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Insurance, and Strategic Growth Council.
• Reduces gubernatorial appointees from 10 to 9 and raises the meeting quorum to 9 members when there are no vacancies.
• Requires the commission to work with the added agencies, along with other specified entities, to identify seismic-safety responsibilities and summarize their updates in its annual report.
• Authorizes the commission, Cal Fire, and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to assess fire-station seismic readiness, earthquake early-warning use, mitigation funding, and post-earthquake fire and infrastructure risks through January 1, 2030.
• Requires annual reports to the Legislature’s emergency-management committees beginning January 1, 2026, on that work and its policy recommendations.

Who it affects ​

• Members and appointing authorities of the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.
• State agencies and public entities that provide seismic-safety activity updates to the commission.
• Fire stations and operators of lifeline infrastructure considered in the commission’s research and recommendations.