A Chance to Rebuild Better

Key Takeaways

• AB 2385 clarifies powers for disaster recovery agencies.
• Enables use of existing infrastructure financing districts.
• LCI and OES will provide implementation guidance.
• Requires alignment of general and recovery plans.
• Aims to streamline post‑fire rebuilding in California.

Summary

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie‑Norris introduced AB 2385 to amend the 1986 Disaster Recovery Reconstruction Act, giving California local governments explicit authority to create disaster‑recovery agencies. The bill replaces references to defunct community redevelopment agencies with a clear list of powers drawn from past recovery experience. It also allows municipalities to leverage existing infrastructure financing and climate‑resilience districts, and mandates state guidance from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Office of Emergency Services. Finally, AB 2385 requires local general plans to be synchronized with disaster‑recovery plans, promoting holistic, pre‑emptive planning.

Pulse Analysis

The 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires exposed a critical weakness in California’s post‑disaster response: local jurisdictions lacked a clear, legally‑backed structure to coordinate recovery. Residents faced prolonged displacement, and fragmented efforts slowed rebuilding, highlighting the need for a dedicated governance model that can act swiftly when flames subside. Policymakers have long recognized that pre‑emptive planning is essential, yet the statutory language of the Disaster Recovery Reconstruction Act left municipalities guessing which powers they could actually wield.

AB 2385 seeks to close that gap by explicitly enumerating the authority of disaster‑recovery agencies, borrowing from proven capacities identified in previous emergencies. By allowing cities to tap into existing tools—such as enhanced infrastructure financing districts and climate‑resilience districts—the bill avoids reinventing bureaucratic wheels and accelerates funding flows. Moreover, the legislation mandates coordinated guidance from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Office of Emergency Services, delivering model ordinances and tailored advice to fit diverse local contexts, from dense Los Angeles neighborhoods to rural mountain towns.

The broader impact extends beyond fire‑prone regions. A harmonized approach that aligns general land‑use plans with recovery strategies creates a resilient baseline, ensuring that communities can rebuild faster, more safely, and with greater economic stability. As climate change intensifies the frequency of extreme events, AB 2385 offers a scalable template for other states grappling with similar governance voids, positioning California as a leader in proactive disaster‑recovery legislation.