California · Democrats · US Senate · Fortune Technology
Fire victims heavily criticized his proposal, even protesting outside the governor’s mansion in Sacramento last week
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Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, a group of victims of the 2025 Los Angeles-area fires, said the deal was a win for them.
Key facts
- Newsom unveiled his latest proposal as Southern California Edison faces claims from the state’s second-most destructive blaze, a 2025 fire that killed 19 people outside of Los Angeles
- He signed a law in 2019, his first year in office, that created a $21 billion fund, paid for by utility shareholders and ratepayers, to help utilities pay for wildfire damages if they take certain
- Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, a group of victims of the 2025 Los Angeles-area fires, said the deal was a win for them
- Pacific Gas & Electric, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after it faced claims from a devastating Northern California blaze started by the utility’s equipment, and Edison International, Southern
Summary
The California Assembly opted not to vote Tuesday on legislation meant to help wildfire victims, deciding at the last minute to push back a decision on a bill that some Democrats, including Gov. Lawmakers introduced the legislation over the weekend after they rejected an ambitious proposal by Newsom that would have limited electric companies’ financial liability for fires sparked by their equipment. After deciding not to vote Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said lawmakers would revisit the issue this fall. “The proposal before us does not yet deliver the relief, accountability or meaningful reform that Californians deserve,” the Democrat said in a statement. Newsom’s plan would have reduced the amount utilities had to pay some victims and barred insurance companies from suing electrical companies to get reimbursed for damages paid out to homeowners.