New California Law Sets First-in-Nation Standards for Smoke Damage in Homes
The law sets state testing and cleanup rules and requires insurers to cover the costs for smoke-damaged homes.
- On Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed four bills establishing the nation's first mandatory standards for smoke-damage testing and remediation, requiring insurers to cover associated cleanup costs.
- Following the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, survivors struggled for 20 months as they faced conflicting guidance from insurers regarding toxic contamination in their standing homes.
- Assemblymember John Harabedian and Assemblymember Mike Gipson authored the new laws requiring insurers to abide by science-based testing standards, championed by Eaton Fire Residents United founder Jane Lawton Potelle.
- Beyond cleanup standards, the package extends mortgage forbearance to 24 months for disaster survivors and holds landlords responsible for remediating contamination under SB 610, authored by Sen. Sasha Renee Perez.
- State agencies must now develop further contamination standards by the end of 2028 and 2029, while the Department of Insurance must report to the governor on coverage gaps by Dec. 1, 2027.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Los Angeles, U.S.A., Sept. 15 (EFE).- California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of measures to protect homes from forest fires on Tuesday, seeking to reduce the risk in the most vulnerable areas following the devastating fires that struck Los Angeles last January. "The new laws set pioneering standards at the national level to assess and remedy smoke pollution from dangerous forest fires, preventing future fires, and require insurers to …
Cal Matters
New California law sets first-in-nation standards for smoke damage in homes
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws that detail insurers' responsibilities in addressing smoke damage in homes. They were inspired by survivors of the LA County fires.
Hanford Sentinel
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs first-in-nation standards for homes damaged by wildfire smoke
LOS ANGELES — Thousands of Los Angeles homeowners faced a persistent problem long after the devastating wildfires in January 2025: While their homes were left standing, they had been infiltrated by heavy, toxic smoke and ash, and remained unsafe. Residents…
Newsom signs first-in-nation standards for homes damaged by wildfire smoke
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to create new standards to test and remediate homes damaged by wildfire smoke, and to require insurance companies to pay for the associated costs.
The legislative package signed by Gavin Newsom sets mandatory standards for insurers on the remediation of properties exposed to toxic substances.
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