Wildfires: contamination standards

Residents, schools, and workers may return after wildfires before consistent testing and cleanup standards exist. The law directs state agencies to create science-based guidance for testing, remediation, and safer reopening.

What the law does ​

• Applies federal lead-dust action levels and state and federal asbestos requirements to wildfire-caused cleanup before new state rules take effect.
• Requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt lead and asbestos testing, cleanup, restoration, and occupancy-clearance regulations by December 31, 2028.
• Requires the department to publish guidance by December 31, 2029 for testing and remediation of additional contaminants, including heavy metals, cyanide, lithium, manganese, dioxins, furans, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
• Requires the State Air Resources Board to publish residential indoor-air guidance for wildfire smoke damage by December 31, 2028.
• Requires the department and State Department of Education to issue advisory school wildfire-recovery guidance by July 1, 2028.
• Requires public workshops and online posting of workshop recordings and public comments for the department's regulations and guidance.

Who it affects ​

• Residents of homes in wildfire impact zones.
• Property owners and environmental professionals conducting postfire testing, cleanup, and restoration.
• Local educational agencies, pupils, school staff, and school communities recovering from wildfires.
• State agencies responsible for toxic-substance, air-quality, and school-recovery guidance.

Context ​

The act becomes operative only if AB 1795 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect by January 1, 2027.