Wildfire Evacuation Modeling Grant Program

The bill creates the wildfire evacuation modeling grant program (program) within the office of emergency management (office) for the purpose of awarding grants to eligible recipients to perform wildfire evacuation modeling and generate reports that include times, maps showing evacuation routes, and any other relevant metrics for the area for which the modeling is being conducted. The program is initially administered as a pilot program and the office must establish a limited number of eligible recipients to receive grants. On or before December 1, 2025, the office must submit a report to the house of representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee, or their successor committees, regarding the pilot program, which may include recommendations for improving the program and recommendations on whether to continue the program.

The bill also creates the wildfire evacuation modeling grant program cash fund (fund) for the purposes of awarding grants and covering administrative costs of the office for administering the program. On August 15, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer $120,000 from the general fund to the fund.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)