Context
In a historic shift for California’s incarcerated workforce, Governor Gavin Newsom signed five bills on October 13, 2025, as part of a seven-bill package known as “Firefighting to Freedom.” The legislation expands pay, protections, and post-release opportunities for incarcerated people who serve as firefighters. It also marks the state’s most comprehensive overhaul of its incarcerated firefighting system.
The new laws arrive one year after the failure of Proposition 6 in 2024, a ballot measure that would have removed language from the state constitution permitting involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. The initiative sought to make prison labor voluntary and prohibit punishment for refusing a work assignment. At present, incarcerated people across California are required to work in jobs such as packaging goods, washing dishes, or manufacturing license plates and furniture, often earning less than 74 cents per hour. Those who decline work assignments can face disciplinary action and lose privileges, including family visits.
The Legislative Package
The Firefighting to Freedom package was designed to improve conditions for the approximately 1,800 incarcerated firefighters who live year-round in California’s 25 county “fire camps.” These minimum-security facilities are operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in partnership with Cal Fire. Incarcerated firefighters previously earned between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during active emergencies. Under the new laws, they will now earn $7.25 per hour while on a fire line.
The package represents an effort to better align rehabilitation programs with fair compensation and safer working conditions. Five of the seven proposed Firefighting for Freedom bills were signed into law, while two others were either vetoed or failed to reach Newsom’s desk.
The Seven Bills Explained
- Assembly Bill 247 requires that incarcerated firefighters earn $7.25 per hour while actively engaged in firefighting operations, significantly increasing their previous emergency pay rate.
- Assembly Bill 799 directs the CDCR to pay a $50,000 death benefit to the families of incarcerated firefighters who die in the line of duty.
- Assembly Bill 812 instructs the department to create regulations for referring incarcerated firefighters for resentencing, potentially shortening sentences for those who demonstrate rehabilitation through service.
- Assembly Bill 952 establishes the Youth Offender Program Camp Pilot Program as a permanent initiative, expanding access to fire camp training for younger incarcerated individuals.
- Senate Bill 245 streamlines the expungement process for formerly incarcerated firefighters, making it easier for them to pursue employment and certification after release.
Two bills did not pass. Assembly Bill 1380 would have created a direct path for formerly incarcerated firefighters to qualify for Firefighter I positions at Cal Fire, removing bureaucratic barriers to state employment. Assembly Bill 1309 sought to increase salaries for state firefighters to make Cal Fire pay more competitive with local departments, but Governor Newsom vetoed the measure, citing budgetary constraints and its conflict with collective bargaining procedures.
Support and Opposition
The package received bipartisan support from nearly two dozen lawmakers. Supporters argued that the reforms recognize the essential role incarcerated firefighters play during wildfire season and provide opportunities for meaningful reentry into the workforce.
The California State Sheriffs’ Association opposed portions of the package, warning that higher pay for incarcerated firefighters could place financial pressure on county jails and spark calls to increase compensation for other incarcerated labor.
Looking Ahead
California’s new firefighting laws suggest a growing willingness to reconsider how the state compensates and rehabilitates incarcerated workers. Although the failure of Proposition 6 shows the political and financial challenges of dismantling involuntary labor altogether, the Firefighting to Freedom package signals incremental progress toward fairer standards. As wildfires intensify and demand for skilled firefighters grows, California’s approach to incarcerated labor will likely shape future debates over prison reform and the balance between punishment and opportunity.