California could be first in the nation to create smoke-damage standards
The measures would require insurers to follow new cleanup rules and pay for testing as more than 13,000 claims involved smoke damage, officials said.
- California lawmakers passed two bills awaiting the governor's signature to establish clear smoke-damage remediation standards following the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires.
- After the 2025 fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures, the Insurance Department estimated more than 13,000 claims involved smoke damage, leaving survivors like Kareem Ali facing payment delays.
- Assembly Bill 1642 will set "a first-in-the-nation standard for testing and remediation," said Assemblymember John Harabedian, a Pasadena Democrat, with the Department of Toxic Substances Control required to establish lead and asbestos standards by 2028.
- Los Angeles County sued State Farm last week, alleging unfair business practices, while the American Property Casualty Insurance Association remains "technically opposed to the bills," said Karen Collins, a vice president at the association.
- The governor has until the end of the month to sign both bills, which must pass together; if enacted, the state would establish additional standards for heavy metals, cyanide, and lithium by 2029.
24 Articles
24 Articles
California could be first in the nation to create smoke-damage standards – WTOP News
Two smoke-damage bills awaiting the governor’s signature address a longstanding issue brought to the fore by the Los Angeles County fires: When is it safe for wildfire survivors to move back into their homes? After the deadly January 2025 fires, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures, the state Insurance Department estimates that more than 13,000...
Associated Press News
California could be first in the nation to create smoke-damage standards
Two smoke-damage bills awaiting the governor’s signature address a longstanding issue brought to the fore by the Los Angeles County fires: When is it safe for wildfire survivors to move back into their homes?
California bills would set first-of-their-kind standards for wildfire smoke damage
TWO SMOKE-DAMAGE BILLS awaiting the governor’s signature address a longstanding issue brought to the fore by the Los Angeles County fires: When is it safe for wildfire survivors to move back into their homes? After the deadly January 2025 fires, which destroyed more than 16,000 structures, the state Insurance Department estimates that more than 13,000 […]
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