Overview

• AB 1309 would have required Cal Fire salaries to fall within 15% of the average pay at 20 surveyed local departments and called for a fire chiefs’ salary survey by January 1, 2027.
• Newsom’s veto followed a near-unanimous legislative push, with the Senate backing the bill unanimously and only one Assembly member voting no.
• A State Assembly analysis estimated the first-year cost at $373 million to $609 million, which Newsom cited in rejecting a statutory pay floor outside bargaining.
• Cal Fire’s union condemned the decision, pointing to lower base pay for state crews and heavier schedules; state data list entry-level Cal Fire pay at $54,122 versus at least $85,315 in Los Angeles, and a 2023 report noted a smaller total-compensation gap and 156 scheduled workdays versus 121 locally.
• A related measure, AB 247, awaits the governor’s decision and would set a $7.25 hourly minimum for incarcerated firefighters if signed.