California considers first-in-nation smoke damage standards

Two California legislative bills, Assembly Bill 1642 and Assembly Bill 1795, are currently awaiting the governor's signature to establish the nation's first standards for wildfire smoke damage. The legislation aims to address the safety and remediation of homes affected by smoke, ash, and soot, which often contain toxic materials like lead and asbestos.

The need for these standards follows the January 2025 Los Angeles County fires, which destroyed over 16,000 structures. The state Insurance Department estimated that 13,000 out of 40,000 claims involved smoke damage. Many residents have been unable to return to their homes for months due to concerns over contaminants and disputes with insurance providers.

Assembly Bill 1642, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian, seeks to set testing and remediation standards. Assembly Bill 1795, authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson, would require insurance companies to comply with these new regulations. The two bills must both be signed by the governor to become law.