Wildfire recovery and safeguarding rights highlight Senator Pérez’s 11 bills reaching Governor’s desk
SACRAMENTO – Eleven bills authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) have passed the Legislature and reached Governor Newsom’s desk for his consideration. The legislation addresses the urgent needs of wildfire survivors who continue to face significant challenges as they work to rebuild following the Eaton Fire. In addition, Senator Pérez’s legislation would protect the civil rights and safety of Californians in the face of attacks by the federal administration.
“From day one, my legislative priorities have focused on Eaton Fire survivors and advocating for the resources and policies they need to recover by removing barriers to rebuilding. It has been a privilege to partner with this strong and resilient community in advocating for greater public resources and stronger accountability for both investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and the insurance industry,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena).
Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto legislation on his desk. The following is a list of the legislation that has reached the Governor’s desk:
Wildfire Survivor Recovery and Accountability:
SB 742, The Wildfire & Emergency Management Act, would require the removal of abandoned or decommissioned powerlines, like the one that caused the Eaton Fire. It would also require electrical utilities to collaborate with regional emergency operation centers to ensure effective communication with local and public safety partners during an emergency.
SB 877, The Fair Claims Practices and Transparency Act, would address the insurance industry’s impact on our community by requiring insurers to disclose to policyholders all loss estimate materials and revisions. This would ensure that homeowners understand how their policy payouts were calculated. This bill is sponsored by Consumer Watchdog and Every Fire Survivor’s Network.
SB 878, The Insurance Payment Accountability Act, would strengthen existing prompt-payment insurance laws by imposing financial penalties for missed claim decisions and payment deadlines. The bill would also require insurers to identify disputed items in writing and make timely payment on all undisputed amounts, even when other portions of a claim remain unresolved. This bill is sponsored by Consumer Watchdog, Every Fire Survivor’s Network, and the State Insurance Commissioner.
SB 1090, The Keep Altadena Land in Altadena Hands Act, is community-driven legislation that would protect Altadena from real estate speculators seeking to acquire fire-damaged properties for higher-density development at a scale that would overwhelm the community’s infrastructure. This bill would create a temporary moratorium on SB 1123, that was signed into law in 2024, similar to the protections extended to Palisades Fire communities through an executive order issued by Governor Newsom. This legislation contains urgency language and would take effect on October 1 if signed into law.
SB 1098, The Protect Ratepayers from Utility Overspending Act, would establish safeguards for ratepayers by setting guidelines for investor-owned utilities’ use of memorandum and balancing accounts and requiring that any costs approved for recovery through rates be set below the current authorized rate of return. This bill is sponsored by The Utility Reform Network (TURN).
SB 1417, The Mutual Water Company Rate Disclosure and Fair Notice Act, would require mutual water companies, including those serving Altadena, to comply with specified notice and public meeting requirements before increasing rates. The bill would also require these entities to provide company records upon request by an eligible person and state that a mutual water company may not hold a shareholder’s tenant directly responsible for water service.
Protecting Civil Liberties:
“I have also worked to advance legislation that uses California’s authority to protect the civil rights, safety and dignity of people impacted by federal immigration and enforcement actions. SB 957 advances meaningful oversight and accountability for privately-operated immigration detention facilities in our state, while SB 1105 establishes clear guardrails to ensure that our own state and local resources are not used in ways that racially profile or criminalize the protected speech of our constituents,” said Senator Pérez.
SB 957, The Protecting Vulnerable Immigrant Detainees Model Act, would direct the Attorney General to develop a comprehensive oversight plan for privately-operated detention facilities to better protect the health, safety, and welfare of people inside. This comes after Senator Pérez’s SB 995, The Masuma Khan Justice Act, died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SB 1105, The Protect California Rights Act, would respond to actions by the current federal administration that have raised concerns about discriminatory and retaliatory enforcement practices. This bill would protect Californians’ civil rights by requiring state and local law enforcement agencies participating in federal task forces to state in writing, through a memorandum of understanding, that they will not engage in racial profiling or the criminalization of speech when operating alongside federal agents. This bill is sponsored by the ACLU California Action and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
Advocating for Students and Health Clinics:
SB 1083, Statewide Accountability System for Egregious Misconduct, would protect students by building on Senator Pérez’s Safe Learning Environments Act (SB 848), passed in 2025. This legislation strengthens investigation and reporting requirements and creates appropriate vetting standards for independent contractors who work with students. Specifically, SB 1083 would require fingerprint-based background checks, disclosure requirements, and appropriate vetting measures to protect student safety. This bill is sponsored by California School Employees Association (CSEA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) California, California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and SEIU California.
SB 845, The High School Youth Apprenticeship Act, would expands access to career-connected learning across the state by strengthening hands-on learning opportunities, removing barriers to industry participation, and connecting students with high-demand careers, all efforts that are guided by the Career Education Master Plan and the recommendations of the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee. Doing so will provide a strong foundation for preparing students for career success, which is essential for building a more inclusive economy. This bill is sponsored by the California Workforce Association and NextGen California.
SB 526, Change-of-Location Health Care Clinic Application, would authorize community health centers with an affiliate to use the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) fast-tracked licensing process when opening a new health center, relocating an existing one, or changing management. This process is not currently accessible for clinics licensed before 2010, even if the clinic is in good standing. Through this bill, facilities like Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley would be allowed to relicense a new facility using this fast-tracked process. This bill is sponsored by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of CA and the California Primary Care Association.
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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education. She represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.
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