Senator Pérez’s wildfire legislation awaits Governor Newsom’s decision
SACRAMENTO – A collection of bills authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) and designed to aid in wildfire recovery and boost California’s resiliency against future tragedies has passed the Legislature and reached Governor Newsom’s desk.
“From my second day in Sacramento when fires devastated our communities, I made a commitment to do everything in my power to help with recovery and prevent future disasters,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “Now, nine months later, this legislation has reached Governor Newsom for his consideration. I am grateful to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who have supported our efforts to deliver resources and results with great urgency. These bills provide meaningful resources and tangible results for Californians, and I respectfully call on the Governor to sign them into law.”
The legislation consists of five bills that are authored or joint authored by Senator Pérez including:
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 and reduces the immediate tax burden from property value reassessments, helping homeowners avoid unexpected financial hardships.
SB 610 (Disaster Protections for Homeowners and Renters), as part of the Senate’s Golden State Commitment, this bill establishes key protections for tenants and homeowners following a disaster. For tenants, it creates a presumption that the presence of debris from a disaster renders a unit uninhabitable; clarifies that landlords are responsible for repairing damage to the unit after a disaster, including smoke and ash damage; and clarifies tenants are not obligated to pay rent during a mandatory evacuation order. For homeowners, it requires the state to coordinate with mortgage lenders upon an emergency declaration for a wildfire to facilitate mortgage forbearance for those financially impacted.
SB 547 (Commercial Insurance Protection Act), as part of the Senate’s Golden State Commitment, this bill would help small businesses recover from future disasters without fear of having their commercial insurance canceled or not renewed for one year. These same protections already exist for homeowners. It would ensure condominiums, affordable housing communities, small businesses and nonprofit organization can get back on their feet.
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. SB 782 requires public engagement and transparency, including multiple public hearings and making the infrastructure financing accessible to the public prior to district approval.
SB 581 (Fight for Firefighters Act) 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. In California, fire is a year round threat.
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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.