California wildfire liability plan stalls in Assembly — Assembly, California

ASSEMBLY, California — A compromise plan that was supposed to help wildfire victims was killed in the California Assembly on the final day of the legislative session.

Wildfire Details

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A compromise plan intended to assist California wildfire survivors collapsed in the state Assembly on the final day of the legislative session following intense pushback from major utility companies.

Senate Bill 492, co-authored by Democrats Josh Becker and Cottie Petrie-Norris, would have established an expedited payment system for wildfire victims while holding major utilities, including Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison, liable if their equipment sparked a catastrophic fire.

The proposal also would have allowed insurance companies to seek reimbursement from the utility providers to recoup financial losses.