Senator Pérez introduces legislation to help fire victims recover by resolving long-term home title transfers and property tax issues

Sacramento – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez has introduced legislation to allow residents impacted by January’s wildfires in Los Angeles County to correct missing documentation of homeownership without penalty.

SB 293, the Generational Homeownership Protection Act, would create a pathway for impacted homeowners to bring their property transfer records up to date without penalty. This includes homes that were passed down from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild. SB 293 would also limit the immediate burden of tax increases connected to a property’s value reassessment.

“We know Altadena suffered the worst of the devastation from the Eaton Fire that destroyed nearly 10,000 structures,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “What we didn’t realize until now is many homes particularly in Altadena’s historic Black community were passed down within families, often, without proper title transfers. The lack of proper title documentation could deny families their generational wealth and disqualify homeowners from assistance programs further delaying their ability to recover and rebuild. This legislation is desperately needed to ensure communities like Altadena can maintain their identity and culture.”

In the Eaton Fire, 9,413 structures including homes and businesses were destroyed. Another 1,074 similar structures were damaged, according to CalFire data.

“We are still uncovering how widespread this problem is and are working closely with Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang to explore additional remedies to protect homeowners who have already suffered through this disaster,” said Senator Pérez.

“Property records can be difficult to navigate, and ownership changes aren’t always properly recorded—especially when a property is inherited but not officially reported to our office,” Assessor Prang said. “This can lead to unexpected tax liabilities, including back taxes, for heirs who may not even realize there’s an issue. This legislation provides a solution to prevent these unintended financial burdens,” said Jeff Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor.

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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.