One year after devastating Los Angeles fires, a state senator has introduced legislation to create a state-backed, low-interest loan program for wildfire safety upgrades.
Sen. Ben Allen introduced SB 894 to make wildfire home hardening more affordable for California homeowners. The bill aims to help families retrofit their homes to better protect against future wildfires.
"As families across the region continue rebuilding from last year's horrific tragedy, it is our duty as leaders to find solutions that will not only help them in their recovery, but also prevent these disasters from happening in the first place," said Allen, a Democrat from Pacific Palisades. "Expanding financing options so that more Californians can affordably retrofit their homes will help save lives, homes, and essential public infrastructure and resources."
The bill is sponsored by Megafire Action. The program is modeled on California's GoGreen energy-finance platform, which has demonstrated how public backing can unlock private capital at scale. The new financing program for wildfire retrofitting will ensure Californians across the state have resources to better prevent and protect themselves against future megafires.
Polling conducted by Megafire Action shows 83% of California voters support financial incentives for fire-resistant home upgrades and 81% support certifications that could lead to insurance discounts.
"As we reflect on the destruction of last year's LA fires, we have a responsibility to ensure families are never left so vulnerable again," said Eric Horne, California director at Megafire Action. "We applaud Senator Allen for his leadership and dedication to protect Californians against future fires and are proud sponsors of this bill, which will provide a clear, trusted path for Californians to protect their homes without breaking the bank."
Allen said addressing home vulnerability is essential to stabilizing California's insurance market.
"We will never stabilize California's insurance market until we address the root problem: too many homes are burning down," Allen said. "This proposed program will expand access to those proven protections for the families and communities who need them most, protections that many insurers are already rewarding with significant premium discounts."
The introduction of SB 894 comes as Allen, along with Sen. Perez of Pasadena, honored victims of both the Palisades and Eaton fires on the Senate floor. The introduction also follows an announcement that the state is pursuing a new fund to help bridge gaps between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs.
The bill will be heard in the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee in the coming weeks.
Edited by SMDP Staff