CA AB1253

Allows county assessors to align "substantial equivalence" property assessments with government-mandated rebuild standards when state or local action suspends or modifies development requirements for fire reconstruction

Applies specifically to properties damaged by the 2025 fire disasters in Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, or Woodley as proclaimed by the Governor

Preserves the existing rule that property reconstructed to be "substantially equivalent" after a calamity does not trigger reassessment as "new construction," maintaining the original property tax base year value

Ensures homeowners rebuilding under modified government standards can still qualify for the property tax exemption for disaster reconstruction, even if rebuild requirements differ from the original structure

Requires assessors to follow provisions in Section 70.5(b) when applying the aligned assessment standards