SB36

The amendment changes the definition of "wildfire" from "unintentional" to "unwanted" fire, shifts the annual report deadline from April to June, and adds a requirement that qualified utilities update their wildfire mitigation plans at least once every five years—collectively strengthening the bill's wildfire mitigation framework with clearer fire definitions and more regular plan reviews.

The amendment removes filing fees ($500 for wildfire mitigation plans and $250 for annual reports) that utilities were required to pay to the Public Utilities Commission, eliminating a revenue mechanism without otherwise altering the bill's wildfire mitigation requirements. This change weakens the bill's implementation structure by removing dedicated funding for administrative processing of these plans.

The amendment clarifies that electric cooperatives and municipal utilities submit wildfire mitigation plans to their own approval authorities (board of directors or city council) rather than to the Public Utilities Commission, while other qualified utilities still submit to the Commission, and it tightens the update requirement from once every five years to once every two years—NARROWING the Commission's direct oversight role while STRENGTHENING the enforcement frequency.

The amendment changed only the bill's formatting and document status—converting it from the "House Commerce and Energy Engrossed" version (26.558.19) to the "Enrolled" final version (26.558.20)—with no changes to the substantive provisions authorizing utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and liability protections.

Other amendments

• Tim Goodwin36D
• Julie Auch36C