A collection of bills authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) to aid in wildfire recovery and make California more resilient to future natural disasters has been signed into law by Governor Newsom.
“Today is a significant step forward for fire survivors who have faced tremendous loss and are now navigating the recovery process following the LA Fires,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “Our four pieces of legislation signed into law will help speed up our recovery and ensure people can remain in their homes and rebuild. While the road to recovery may be long, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to support recovery efforts for my constituents in Altadena, Pasadena and the Greater Los Angeles region and working to prevent future disasters like this from occurring again. Thank you, Governor Newsom, for your unwavering support of our constituents over the past ten months.”
Governor Newsom has signed the following four pieces of legislation:
SB 293 (Generational Homeownership Protection Act)
Establishes a pathway for homeowners affected by the 2025 Southern California wildfires to update their property transfer records without financial penalty. This ensures continuity for families who have inherited their homes. Additionally, it reduces the immediate tax burden from property value reassessments, helping homeowners avoid unexpected financial hardships.
SB 547 (Commercial Insurance Protection Act)
As part of the Senate’s Golden State Commitment, this bill helps small businesses, nonprofits, and affordable housing communities recover after disasters by stopping insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew their coverage for one year after a declared emergency—helping them get back on their feet. These same protections already exist for homeowners.
SB 610 (Disaster Protections for Homeowners and Renters)
Also part of the Senate’s Golden State Commitment, this bill establishes key protections for tenants and homeowners following a disaster.
For tenants, it:
– Establishes a presumption that disaster-related debris renders a unit uninhabitable.
– Clarifies that landlords are responsible for repairing damage caused by disasters, including smoke and ash.
– Confirms that tenants are not obligated to pay rent during a mandatory evacuation order.
For homeowners, it requires the state to coordinate with mortgage lenders following a wildfire emergency declaration to facilitate mortgage forbearance for those financially impacted.
SB 782 (Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District)
Creates a streamlined option for cities and counties to form a disaster recovery financing district to support projects that repair, rehabilitate, or replace disaster-damaged infrastructure, and initiatives that mitigate future disaster risks. This includes economic recovery projects, resiliency enhancements, small business recovery, and workforce development programs. It requires public engagement and transparency, including multiple public hearings and making the infrastructure financing plan accessible to the public before district approval.
