Logo courtesy of Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition

SANTA ROSA, CA (MPG) - Wildfire survivors, elected officials, business representatives and community advocates gathered in Santa Rosa on Sept. 18 to call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign legislation aimed at addressing compensation for victims of utility-caused wildfires.

Assembly Bill 2700, called the Fire Victim Restitution and Recovery Act by supporters, would direct the California Public Utilities Commission to establish a process for addressing wildfire victim compensation and restitution shortfalls.

According to the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition, the measure passed the Legislature with bipartisan support, including a 78-0 vote in the Assembly.

“AB 2700 shows what is possible when wildfire survivors, local businesses, community leaders and policymakers work together across party lines,” said William Abrams, a Tubbs Fire survivor and organizing advocate for the coalition. “This was real grassroots advocacy by fire survivors and communities that have waited far too long for justice.”

The coalition said the legislation would place responsibility for restitution on electrical corporations responsible for causing wildfires while seeking to prevent additional costs from falling on taxpayers or utility ratepayers.

The legislation states, “The Legislature recognizes that the ultimate responsibility and accountability for ensuring the fair, full and timely restitution of wildfire victims rests with the electrical corporation that ignited the wildfire.”

Supporters say thousands of Northern California families and businesses affected by fires between 2015 and 2018 have not received full compensation. The coalition said the PG&E Fire Victim Trust faces a 30% shortfall and that AB 2700 would require the CPUC to establish timelines and enforcement mechanisms addressing compensation.

“Wildfire survivors have already lost enough. They shouldn’t have to spend years fighting just to receive the full compensation they are entitled to,” James Gallagher said in the coalition’s release. “AB 2700 makes it clear that the utility responsible for starting a catastrophic fire is responsible for making victims whole, not taxpayers or ratepayers.”

Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder also urged Newsom to sign the bill.

“Our community and fire-affected communities like Paradise across California need AB 2700,” Crowder said. “We need it to rebuild and recover. PG&E must fully pay us what is owed and long overdue. This bill sets the path to get that done.”

Eric Jones, a Democratic candidate for California’s 4th Congressional District, also spoke in support of the legislation.

“AB 2700 holds them accountable,” Jones said. “I’m proud to stand with the advocates who built this coalition and got this bill to the governor’s desk, and proud that it got there with votes from both sides of the aisle.”

The coalition also used the gathering to discuss its opposition to Senate Bill 492, another wildfire-related measure. Coalition members said they opposed provisions they believed could pressure victims into settling claims before fire-cause investigations, damage assessments and legal reviews were complete.

“Fast help, yes. Fast releases, no,” Abrams said. “Emergency advances can help survivors, but forced settlement pathways that weaken victim rights or limit utility accountability are not the answer.”

According to the coalition, AB 2700 also would make its restitution provisions available to victims of the Eaton Fire and victims of future utility-caused wildfires.

Newsom faces a Sept. 30 deadline to act on the measure.