Public safety and emergencies
52 upcoming changes, soonest first.
October 2026 3
Crews on U.S. cruise ships sailing abroad must complete emergency familiarization
Everyone working on U.S.-flagged passenger ships that carry more than 12 passengers on international voyages must be shown the ship's safety features and emergency duties before starting work. Crowd management training now also covers certain ratings, not only officers and muster-list crew.
Explosives delivered by common carrier no longer need an ID check of the recipient
When explosives are shipped through a common or contract carrier, neither the carrier nor the seller has to check the ID of the person accepting delivery for the buyer. Licensees and permittees must report each added or removed responsible person and authorized employee within 30 days.
Explosives storers must renew their notice to the local fire authority every year
People who store federally regulated explosives already tell the local fire authority when they start. Now they must send a written notice every 12 months and within 48 hours of stopping storage at a site, and keep copies for five years.
November 2026 1
Workplace chemical hazard rule deadlines for labels and training pushed back four months
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration pushes each compliance date in its updated Hazard Communication Standard back four months. The deadline for chemical makers evaluating substances has passed; next, employers must update workplace labels, their hazard program and training for substances, with mixtures later.
December 2026 2
Car seat side-impact standard is delayed and school bus child seats are exempted
Child car seats must meet the federal side-impact crash standard later than first set, giving small makers more time, and school bus child seats with the required labels are exempt. Forward-facing seats are no longer tested with the 12-month-old crash dummy.
More radioactive materials can be used in small amounts without a federal license
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission lets labs, hospitals and industry use small amounts of many more radionuclides without a license, and lets Energy Department contractors run first responder training with limited material without a case-by-case exemption. It takes effect only if no significant objections arrive.
January 2027 43
911 centers must give medical callers instructions before help arrives
Public safety agencies that answer 911 medical calls must give callers prearrival medical instructions, including choking help for infants, children and adults, and how to give naloxone for an overdose. The local emergency medical services medical director must approve the instructions.
Aging and disability centers must teach disaster preparedness to seniors
Local Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs must offer community classes that prepare older adults and people with disabilities for disasters, covering alert systems, evacuation help and utility services in emergencies. As with the rest of the program, this depends on state budget funding.
Bars must keep offering drink lids and drug test kits, now with no end date
The rule that Type 48 bars must sell drink-spiking test kits and provide drink lids, at prices based on wholesale cost, no longer has an end date. Bars may post either of two approved signs about the lids and kits.
Cal Fire gets a Fire Innovation Unit to test and buy wildfire technology
If the Legislature funds it, Cal Fire sets up a Fire Innovation Unit to research, test and buy wildfire technology. The unit may fund early-stage and mature technology projects through grants or contracts and run pilot projects and test sites.
Concealed carry licenses last up to three years instead of two
Standard California licenses to carry a concealed firearm are valid for up to three years from the date issued, up from two. The 90-day limit for licenses based on a workplace and the four-year terms for some custodial and appointed peace officers stay in place.
Emergency office must file two after-action reports for each state of emergency
The Office of Emergency Services must write two after-action reports per state of emergency, one within 180 days of the declaration and one within 180 days after it ends. Affected cities and counties must report on local recovery within 120 days after it ends.
Fire sprinkler fitter certification moves from regulation into state law
The State Fire Marshal's certification rules for fire sprinkler fitters, now in regulations, become state law, with trainee and apprentice tracks and contractor duties. Fire officials can inspect worksites and issue stop work orders, and violations are a misdemeanor.
Large cold storage warehouses need an emergency fund before getting building permits
Cities and counties can't issue building permits for large cold storage warehouses unless the owner or operator sets up an emergency fund. At first this applies only in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Boyle Heights fire settlement payments are free of state income tax.
Nonprofit security grants can now pay for security at events
State security grants for nonprofits at high risk of hate attacks can now pay for security at the group's onsite and offsite events, with offsite events capped at $25,000. Groups without their own site can get offsite event money. It still depends on budget funding.
People bringing guns into California must get a safety certificate within 180 days
Personal firearm importers get 180 days instead of 60 to report a gun brought into the state, and must get a firearm safety certificate in that time or face an infraction. Later, certificate applicants must first take a 4-hour course with live fire.
Police may offer voluntary temporary storage for people's guns
Local law enforcement agencies may set up programs where gun owners hand over firearms for temporary safekeeping. The agency checks the gun isn't stolen, confirms the owner may legally have it back, and destroys guns left unclaimed past its holding period.
State Fire Marshal takes over safety rules and fees for hydrogen pipelines
Pipelines that carry hydrogen come under a new State Fire Marshal safety program like the one for oil pipelines, with yearly inspections, pressure testing and annual operator fees. Willful violations carry fines up to $25,000, and owners of existing lines must file safety assessments.
State fire agency to officially recognize communities that meet wildfire safety goals
The state forestry and fire department must create a voluntary program recognizing communities that reach set levels of home hardening, defensible space and other wildfire work. Recognized communities partnering with a fire safe council may later get Wildfire Prevention Grant money.
Using a drone to interfere with wildfire fighting brings civil penalties up to $75,000
Flying a drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with wildfire suppression, or with an emergency response under a federal flight restriction, is banned. The Attorney General, county counsels or city attorneys can sue for up to $75,000 per violation.
Youth tackle football leagues must let players wear extra safety gear like helmet covers
Youth tackle football leagues, programs and coaches must allow players to use added safety equipment, including soft-shell helmet covers, and players can sue for a court order and legal fees. A cover voids a helmet's warranty or certification only if it substantially damages the helmet.
Gas and liquid pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of ASTM A333
Gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of ASTM A333, the industry standard for steel pipe for low-temperature service, in place of the version six years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline rules adopt a newer standard for internal corrosion checks
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of industry standard SP0206, the method for internal corrosion direct assessment of pipelines carrying dry natural gas, replacing a much older edition. A comment about a broken web link did not block it.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM A372 standard for steel pressure vessels
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest reapproved edition of ASTM A372/A372M, the standard for carbon and alloy steel forgings for thin-walled pressure vessels, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM D2513 standard for plastic gas pipe
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM D2513, the standard for polyethylene gas pressure pipe, tubing and fittings, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM D2564 standard for PVC pipe cement
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM D2564, the standard for solvent cements used to join PVC plastic pipe, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM F1055 standard for electrofusion fittings
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer, reapproved edition of ASTM F1055, the standard for electrofusion polyethylene fittings used with polyethylene and PEX pipe and tubing, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM F1973 standard for risers and fittings
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM F1973, the standard for factory-assembled anodeless risers and transition fittings in plastic gas distribution systems, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM F2620 standard for fusing plastic pipe
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM F2620, the standard practice for heat fusion joining of polyethylene pipe and fittings, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM F2767 standard for nylon pipe fittings
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM F2767, the standard for electrofusion polyamide-12 fittings used with polyamide-12 gas distribution pipe and tubing, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest NFPA 59 code for utility propane plants
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of NFPA 59, the Utility LP-Gas Plant Code, replacing the much older edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline rules adopt the newest edition of the NFPA 58 propane gas code
Federal gas pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of NFPA 58, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, replacing the older edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of ASTM D2513
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of ASTM D2513, the industry standard for polyethylene gas pressure pipe, tubing and fittings, in place of the version four years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of ASTM F1973
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of ASTM F1973, the industry standard for factory-built anodeless risers and transition fittings, in place of the version four years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of ASTM F2620
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of ASTM F2620, the industry standard for heat fusion joining of polyethylene pipe and fittings, in place of the version four years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of ASTM F2767
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of ASTM F2767, the industry standard for electrofusion polyamide-12 fittings for gas distribution, in place of the version one year older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of NFPA 58
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of NFPA 58, the industry standard for propane and other liquefied petroleum gas systems, in place of the version four years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer edition of NFPA 59
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of NFPA 59, the industry standard for liquefied petroleum gas plants run by utilities, in place of the version six years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newer internal corrosion assessment standard
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of NACE International (NACE) SP0206, the industry standard for internal corrosion direct assessment for dry gas lines, in place of the version 10 years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newly reapproved version of ASTM A372
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newly reapproved version of ASTM A372, the industry standard for steel forgings for thin-walled pressure vessels, in place of the version five years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newly reapproved version of ASTM D2564
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newly reapproved version of ASTM D2564, the industry standard for solvent cements for PVC plastic piping, in place of the version four years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Gas pipeline safety rules switch to a newly reapproved version of ASTM F1055
Gas pipeline safety rules will cite a newly reapproved version of ASTM F1055, the industry standard for electrofusion polyethylene fittings, in place of the version six years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Liquid pipeline safety rules switch to a newer butt-welding fittings standard
Hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) SP-75, the industry standard for high-strength butt-welding fittings, in place of the version six years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
Oil pipeline rules adopt a newer standard for high-strength welding fittings
Federal hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of industry standard SP-75 for high-strength, wrought, butt-welding fittings, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Pipeline rules adopt a newer standard for external corrosion assessment
Federal gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of industry standard SP0502, the method for external corrosion direct assessment, replacing a much older edition. The agency ruled that a comment about a broken web link did not block it.
Pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM A333 standard for low-temperature steel pipe
Federal gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM A333/A333M, the standard for welded steel pipe and pipe made without seams for low-temperature service, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Pipeline rules adopt the newest ASTM A53 standard for steel pipe
Federal gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules switch to the latest edition of ASTM A53/A53M, the standard for black and hot-dipped zinc-coated steel pipe, welded or made without seams, replacing the edition they cited before. No comments blocked the change.
Pipeline safety rules switch to a newer external corrosion assessment standard
Gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety rules will cite a newer edition of NACE International (NACE) SP0502, the industry standard for external corrosion direct assessment, in place of the version 15 years older. Operators may follow the newer version before the switch.
911 centers not yet giving pre-arrival medical instructions must report their status
A 911 center that handles medical calls and was not yet giving callers pre-arrival instructions, such as CPR or choking help, by the existing deadline must report its compliance status to its local emergency medical services agency.
January 2028 2
Sports facilities that keep a defibrillator must let youth teams use it
Public and private sports facilities that keep a defibrillator must let youth sports groups use it during practices and games they permit, and maintain and test it. If a site has none, the youth sports group must bring a working one.
Water suppliers in high fire zones must add wildfire plans to disaster preparedness plans
Urban retail water suppliers serving 3,300 or more people in a high or very high fire hazard zone must add wildfire response procedures and mitigation steps to their disaster plans. Failing to follow them, or losing water pressure in a wildfire, can't be called a substantial cause of fire damage.
July 2029 1
Utilities commission must review its list of hazardous railroad sites
The Public Utilities Commission must review every site on its list of hazardous railroad locations and, in its yearly report to the Legislature, evaluate each one and decide whether changes in conditions, operations or safety data justify removing, changing or adding sites.