Fire Recovery Bills Advance Through State Senate Committee
A package of wildfire recovery legislation sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee, moving the measures closer to final passage before the June 6 deadline.
The Democratic senator from Pacific Palisades refocused his final-term priorities following January's devastating Los Angeles fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across the region.
"The Legislature has acted expeditiously on both monetary measures and policy that will aid in our fire recovery efforts," Allen said. "While the attention of the world has moved on, leaders up and down California maintain our full commitment to providing meaningful relief for the impacted residents and region at large."
The four bills address key recovery challenges identified by fire survivors and local officials:
Senate Bill 495 would require insurance companies to pay 100% of a policyholder's contents coverage without requiring itemized lists of destroyed belongings from natural disasters. Current law often forces fire victims to catalog every lost item.
SB 581 would convert nearly 3,000 seasonal CalFire firefighters to full-time positions and ensure fire stations remain fully staffed year-round. The measure responds to concerns about adequate fire protection during peak fire season.
SB 663 extends deadlines for filing property tax relief claims and rebuilding destroyed homes while preserving tax assessment transfers. The legislation gives victims more time to navigate complex rebuilding processes.
SB 749 strengthens mobile home owners' rights to maintain affordable housing on their land after natural disaster destruction. The bill addresses concerns about displacement of vulnerable residents.
All four measures now advance to the full Senate for floor votes. Lawmakers face a June 6 deadline to pass bills to the Assembly.
Allen represents the 24th State Senate District, covering Westside, Hollywood, coastal South Bay and Santa Monica Mountains communities in Los Angeles County - areas heavily impacted by the January fires.
The senator emphasized California's commitment to supporting affected communities despite waning national attention on the disaster.
"We know Los Angeles is resilient, and the state's largest city will continue to provide a haven where ambitious, inspiring dreams become a reality for generations to come," Allen said.
Edited by SMDP Staff