Four bills address housing recovery, mortgage relief, insurance protections, and wildfire contamination standards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 18, 2026
CONTACT: Sam Villaneda, Samantha.Villaneda@asm.ca.gov, (760)269-9391
Tom Steel, Tom.Steel@asm.ca.gov, (530) 713-7783
Asm. Harabedian’s Wildfire Recovery Package Continues Advancing Through Legislature
Four bills address housing recovery, mortgage relief, insurance protections, and wildfire contamination standards
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember John Harabedian's (D-Pasadena) comprehensive wildfire recovery package continues to advance through the California Legislature, with all four measures moving forward as lawmakers work to address the long-term challenges facing survivors of the Eaton, Palisades, and other devastating wildfires across California.
The package focuses on four critical areas of recovery: ensuring homes are safe to return to, protecting homeowners from foreclosure, extending support for families still rebuilding, and preserving access to insurance coverage.
"Recovery from a major wildfire does not end when the flames are extinguished," said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena). "Families are still navigating insurance delays, rebuilding challenges, mortgage obligations, and questions about whether their homes are safe to reoccupy. These bills address the real-world barriers survivors face and help ensure that Californians can recover and rebuild with dignity."
AB 1642 – Wildfire Contamination Standards
AB 1642 requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop statewide standards for post-wildfire contamination testing, investigation, and remediation. The bill establishes a first in the nation framework for determining when homes, schools, and workplaces are safe to reoccupy following a wildfire and addresses growing concerns about toxic contamination left behind by urban wildfires.
AB 1842 – California Mortgage Relief Act
AB 1842 creates a statewide mortgage forbearance framework for homeowners whose residences are rendered uninhabitable by a major disaster. The bill allows eligible homeowners to temporarily pause mortgage payments while protecting them from foreclosure, excessive fees, and negative credit reporting as they recover and rebuild.
AB 1847 – Extending Mortgage Relief for Los Angeles Wildfire Survivors
AB 1847 extends the protections established under the Mortgage Forbearance Act (AB 238) for homeowners impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. The bill recognizes that many families remain displaced due to insurance delays, permitting backlogs, labor shortages, and prolonged rebuilding timelines, and provides additional time for recovery.
AB 2038 – Extending Insurance Moratorium Protections
AB 2038 strengthens California's insurance protections for wildfire survivors by extending post-disaster insurance moratorium periods. Specifically, the bill extends the existing one-year moratorium on nonrenewals to two years for homes located in or adjacent to a fire perimeter ZIP code and extends the existing two-year moratorium to three years for homeowners whose properties were completely destroyed. The bill recognizes that recovery from a catastrophic wildfire often takes multiple years and ensures families do not lose coverage while they rebuild.
Together, the four bills represent one of the most comprehensive legislative efforts to address the long-term impacts of catastrophic wildfires on California families. The measures build upon lessons learned from recent disasters and seek to provide survivors with greater stability, transparency, and protection throughout the recovery process.
All four bills remain active in the legislative process and will continue to be heard in policy and fiscal committees in the coming weeks.
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Assemblymember John Harabedian represents the 41st District composed of the cities of La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Oak Hills, Piñon Hills and Phelan.
