The Office of Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick recently announced significant legislative advancements for rural communities, environmental safety, and wildfire resilience, as five of her bills—Assembly Bill 429, AB 441, AB 959, AB 993, and AB 998—cleared the state Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support and are now headed to the Senate.
Details on the bills include:
- AB 429: Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims – This bill ensures that wildfire victims in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties will not be taxed on settlement payments from the 2021 Dixie Fire and the 2022 Mill Fire.
- AB 441: Extending Wildfire Research and Mitigation Programs – This legislation extends the work of California’s Office of Wildfire Technology Research and Development and the statewide wildfire mitigation program through 2031. These programs provide vital tools and funding to help vulnerable regions prepare for, combat, and recover from wildfires.
- AB 959: Expanding Access to Administrative Credential Internships – This bill opens administrative credential internships to both school districts and county offices of education, thus broadening access to leadership development opportunities for aspiring school administrators.
- AB 993: Expanding Hazardous Materials Support to Rural Counties – This bill aims to bring equity to California’s rural communities by expanding eligibility for Rural Certified Unified Program Agency Reimbursement funds to all counties with fewer than 150,000 residents, irrespective of their certification date or past technicalities.
- AB 998: Safe Disposal of Confiscated Vape Pens in Schools – This legislation provides schools with a safe and legal method to dispose of confiscated vape pens by classifying them as household hazardous waste, ensuring they are safely disassembled to prevent chemical exposure and prohibiting their redistribution through materials exchange programs.
All five bills have now advanced to the state Senate, where Hadwick is committed to continuing her advocacy for rural equity, environmental stewardship, and public safety. Further information about these and other legislative efforts is available on the California legislative information website.
