Governor Gavin Newsom has signed groundbreaking legislation establishing the nation's first comprehensive standards for testing and remediating homes damaged by wildfire smoke, and mandating that insurance companies cover these essential costs.
The new laws aim to address the persistent issue faced by thousands of California homeowners who, long after wildfires have subsided, find their homes rendered unsafe by lingering toxic smoke and ash, even if structurally intact. Residents have often been forced into protracted disputes with insurers to prove contamination and secure financial assistance for cleanup and temporary relocation.
In announcing the signing of Assembly Bill 1642, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian, Governor Newsom stated, "California will not leave survivors to navigate recovery alone. These new protections will make insurer obligations clearer and give homeowners more financial flexibility when they need it most." The legislation directs the state to develop scientific benchmarks for residential safety post-wildfire and provide guidance on effective remediation techniques.
The impetus for the bill came from wildfire survivors and advocates, such as Jane Lawton Potelle, founder of Eaton Fire Residents United. Potelle, whose own home remained contaminated months after the January 2025 fires, highlighted the critical need for standardized protocols, noting that "just because your home is left standing and looks fine, doesn’t mean that it’s actually safe to return." Data collected by her group indicated widespread contamination, with many cleanup efforts proving insufficient and leaving homes unsafe.
A companion bill, Assembly Bill 1795, requires insurance companies to adhere to the new standards promptly within the claims process. Harabedian emphasized that "the question of whether a family can safely return home should be answered by science, not by an insurance company’s guesswork." He added that families should not have to independently determine their home's safety or fight for necessary testing.
Additionally, Governor Newsom signed legislation offering homeowners up to one year of mortgage forbearance if their home becomes uninhabitable due to wildfire impacts, and extended existing mortgage relief for those affected by the recent Eaton and Palisades fires for another year. These measures address the significant impact of smoke damage, which accounts for a substantial portion of insurance claims following major wildfire events.
