Harabedian Wildfire Contamination Bill Faces Senate Floor Vote Monday

A bill by Assemblymember John Harabedian that would direct California to set standards for testing lead and asbestos in homes left standing after a wildfire goes to the state Senate floor Monday, the last day of the legislative session.

AB 1642 grew out of the Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes and businesses in January 2025. Its sponsor is Eaton Fire Residents United, the Altadena-based resident group formed after the fire.

As amended Friday, the bill would direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control, with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, to adopt lead and asbestos testing and remediation regulations by Dec. 31, 2028, and guidance on other contaminants a year later. The State Air Resources Board would issue indoor-air guidance by the same date. Until then, existing federal lead-in-dust and asbestos standards would apply inside a wildfire impact zone.

The measure becomes operative only if AB 1795, Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s Smoke Damage Recovery Act, is enacted by Jan. 1, 2027. Should both take effect, insurers would be required to follow AB 1642’s standards, Harabedian’s office said.

Harabedian, a Pasadena Democrat, said Sunday: “Eaton Fire survivors know too well that any decision to return home must be guided by science, not insurance company guesswork.”

Michelle Meyers, a Singleton Schreiber partner representing Eaton Fire homeowners, wrote in CalMatters in May: “Trade associations have filed formal opposition to AB 1642, but no one spoke against AB 1795.”

The Senate takes up AB 1642 on Monday, Aug. 31, , in the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The Senate streams floor sessions live at senate.ca.gov/streaming-media-television. Bill text, amendments and roll calls are posted at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Monday is the last day for each house to pass bills.