Press Release

Senator Pérez co-leads passage of wildfire legislation to aid in recovery and resilience

SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, the Senate passed a series of bills to aid in the recovery of the January wildfire disaster and boost California’s resiliency to prevent future tragedies.

The Senate’s Golden State Commitment package contains 13 bills including four that are authored by Senator Pérez including:

  • SB 581, the “Fight for Firefighters Act” to transition 3,000 seasonal Cal Fire firefighters to full-time, permanent status to respond to fires year round

  • SB 547, to support the recovery of small businesses, nonprofit organizations and affordable housing communities devastated by fires and other natural disasters

  • and SB 610 to protect homeowners, renters, and mobilehome owners who have lost or sustained damage to their homes due to a natural disaster.

“Our commitment to help our communities recover and rebuild from the January fires is unwavering,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “I have no greater duty than to be there for my constituents as our communities recover from the Eaton Fire. I am moving with great urgency and a spirit of strong bipartisanship to ease the pain and rebuild this special place we love and call home.”

SB 581 – “Fight for Firefighters Act”

The “Fight for Firefighters Act” passed the Senate unanimously and would transition all 3,000 seasonal Cal Fire firefighters to full-time, permanent status. The measure would also fully staff all 356 Cal Fire engines and all helicopter bases year round.

“Wildfires have devastated communities across the state during any point in the year, not just in the summer months. Now more than ever, we are committed to making California more resilient so that we do not face tragedies like this again,” said Senator Pérez.

SB 547 - Commercial Insurance Protection

Today, the Senate passed a series of bill in the Golden State Commitment package including my SB 547, which protects holders of commercial insurance policies who are impacted by natural disasters. This helps vital small businesses in our community recover without fear of insurance cancelation or non-renewals for one year. These same protections already exist for homeowners. My legislation will also ensure condominiums, affordable housing communities and nonprofit organization can get back on their feet. 

SB 610 - Disaster Protections for Homeowners, Renters, and Mobilehome Owners

SB 610 would offer wide-ranging help to homeowners, renters and mobile home residents who have list or sustained damage to their home during a natural disaster. This comprehensive legislation is part of the Senate’s Golden State Commitment package of bills in response to the LA fires. SB 610 would provide greater protections for homeowners by requiring the state to work with banks and mortgage lenders to provide mortgage forbearance programs to impacted homeowners. It would also protect renters by ensuring landlords are responsible for repairs and remediation of any damage from smoke and ash debris. Mobile home owners would have the right to return to their location when a mobile home park reopens after a fire. 

Senator Pérez is authoring additional fire-related legislation beyond the Golden State Commitment package. This includes:

SB 256 - Enhancing Infrastructure for Wildfire Mitigation

SB 256 would strengthen California’s electrical infrastructure by improving wildfire mitigation planning, enhancing emergency response, and increasing public safety through improved communication and undergrounding of power lines. The bill also would require utilities to work more closely with local fire departments, emergency services and communities to prevent wildfires and manage power shutoffs safely and transparently. 

SB 293 - The Generational Homeownership Protection Act

SB 293, the Generational Homeownership Protection Act, would establish a pathway for disaster-impacted homeowners to bring their property transfer records up to date without penalty, ensuring continuity for families who have inherited their homes. It would also reduce the immediate tax burden associated with property value reassessments to help homeowners avoid unexpected financial hardships.

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.