California signs first-in-nation wildfire smoke damage standards

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Tuesday establishing the nation's first science-based standards for testing and remediating wildfire smoke damage in homes, addressing a long-standing dispute between homeowners and insurers. The laws, signed in Altadena, require insurers to cover the costs of testing and cleanup and create a framework for future disasters. Assembly Bill 1642 directs the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop standards for testing and removing contaminants like lead, asbestos, and cyanide from wildfire smoke. The department must issue standards for lead and asbestos by the end of 2028 and for other toxic materials by the end of 2029. Until those standards are finalized, existing federal and state guidelines will apply. A companion bill, Assembly Bill 1795, creates a legal presumption that smoke damage in a fire zone originated from the fire and requires insurers to pay for testing and remediation based on the new standards. The legislation also bars insurers from cutting off Additional Living Expense coverage until a home is remediated and safe to occupy.