
September 1st, 2026
California lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a bill.
The bill helps wildfire victims.
They said no to a bigger plan.
That plan was from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
It would have limited what utility companies pay.
They pay for fires from their equipment.
Newsom said the new plan has some good parts.
Victims get money faster.
But he said it does not make big changes.
It does not change who pays for fires from utility equipment.
His first plan would have made utilities pay less to some victims.
It would have stopped insurers from suing them for money back.
This loss is rare for the governor.
He often gets support from the Democratic-led Legislature.
Fire victims did not like his first plan.
They said it helped utilities.
Joy Chen is from Every Fire Survivor's Network.
She called the new deal a win.
She said lawmakers listened to survivors.
The bill will make a program to pay victims faster.
It will stop hedge funds from making money on wildfire claims.
It will stop utility bosses from getting bonuses.
This happens if their equipment damages more than 500 buildings.
Utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric and Edison International said the bill will not help rates.
It will not give long-term answers.
Assemblymember Rick Zbur called the lack of bigger change a "disaster."
The bill needs two-thirds approval.
It will start right after it is signed.
Lawmakers also passed another bill.
It makes the first rules in the nation for testing and cleaning bad chemicals in homes after wildfires.
September 1st, 2026

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