California Legislature Amends SB 492 to Protect Wildfire Survivors' Rights
The California Legislature has released an amended version of Senate Bill (SB) 492 that preserves the rights of wildfire survivors and rejects provisions seen as favoring utility companies. The bill, authored by Senator Josh Becker and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, ensures no caps on damages for economic or noneconomic losses from wildfires caused by utilities. It also allows local governments, private businesses, insurance companies, and attorneys to recover their costs without restrictions. The legislation introduces a Fast Pay program aimed at expediting compensation for survivors while preserving the ability of victims to file lawsuits and gather evidence before any limited stay is applied during the settlement process. Advocacy groups such as Every Fire Survivor's Network and Consumer Watchdog praised lawmakers, particularly Senate pro Tem Monique Limón, for resisting pressure from powerful utility interests. Despite this legislative win, advocates note that California still faces a critical issue: three major utilities have been responsible for some of the most costly wildfires in history. The bill does not address broader systemic risks posed by these companies and will require further action when the Legislature reconvenes next year.
Topics: consumer rights utility regulation wildfire liability