Ventura County supervisors back state legislation to hold utilities accountable, seek aid for smaller disaster survivors

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 28 to sponsor and support proposed state legislation aimed at requiring investor-owned utilities to reimburse customers for losses during public-safety power shutoffs (PSPS), increase utility transparency and responsiveness during outages, and pursue a California State Individual Assistance (CSIA) program to provide relief when federal assistance is unavailable.

Supervisor John Garrell introduced the board letter, saying the measures grew out of months of emergency response following the mountain fire and subsequent extreme weather and power outages. He asked the board to "support these items specifically, and we are prepared to offer up the county of Ventura and the Board of Supervisors as named sponsors in any legislation to move this forward," adding that staff and board members would actively lobby Sacramento.

The board also voted to approve the county's proposed 2025-26 state and federal legislative agenda and platform with modifications requested by supervisors. The platform was revised to allow the county to act as sponsor on bills consistent with the platform and to add language supporting reasonably priced residential and commercial fire insurance and the continued viability of the California FAIR Plan.

Why it matters: County officials said recent wildfires and lengthy PSPS events have exposed gaps in how customers and first responders are protected and compensated, and left many residents without timely state or federal aid. Sponsor status gives Ventura County a formal role in shaping and lobbying for legislation the board identifies as priorities.

What the board asked staff to pursue: Garrell outlined four priority items the county will pursue with its legislative delegation: (1) legislation to require investor-owned utilities to reimburse customers automatically for losses during PSPS events, (2) requirements for improved PSPS transparency and utility participation in local emergency operations, (3) establishment of a California State Individual Assistance program to fill gaps for disasters that do not meet FEMA thresholds, and (4) support for CEQA waivers or similar legislative relief to allow faster rebuilding for mountain fire victims similar to waivers given after some Los Angeles-area fires.

Emergency-management officials and legislative partners who spoke to the board supported the approach. Patrick Maynard, Ventura County Emergency Management director, said PSPS "has a place" but that utilities need faster re-energization and better communication: "Once winds subside and conditions improve, we want them to look to reenergize within a matter of hours and not days," he said. Mr. Maynard also backed the CSIA concept, telling supervisors the county has repeatedly seen disasters that fall short of FEMA thresholds but still leave families with catastrophic losses.

Leroy Stoneham, speaking for State Senator Henry Stern's office, relayed the senator's support: "Our communities deserve transparency, accountability, and timely support during times of crisis. The goals of this legislation ensure that disaster survivors receive the aid they need and that we build a more resilient California."

Mountain fire victim Hatem Naim told the board he and his family lost their home and trees, have received no state or federal funds, and are still waiting on SBA loans: "Since that time until today, we have received not a single dollar, not a single penny from a local, federal, or state." Naim urged the board to press for relief.

Board discussion and process details: Supervisors emphasized the need to coordinate closely with the county's government affairs staff and legislative delegation. Michelle Guzman, county government affairs manager, said the proposed measures would be added to the legislative platform as items the county could sponsor and that staff would return with implementation steps. Supervisors also discussed parallel administrative avenues, such as urging the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to act and coordinating with statewide associations (CSAC, League of Cities) to bring pressure on utilities and regulators while legislation proceeds.

Officials described practical barriers under current utility reimbursement programs. Garrell and Maynard said the existing voluntary claims programs are difficult for residents to use; Garrell said constituents had filed claims for spoiled food and property loss but that "0 have been approved. 0." The board asked staff to pursue options that could include automatic credits or straightforward metrics tied to outage hours.

Votes and next steps: The board voted to sponsor or support the legislative items Garrell proposed and to direct staff to coordinate on sponsorship, lobbying, and outreach to the county's legislative delegation. The county also adopted the 2025-26 legislative platform as modified to enable sponsorship authority and to add insurance-related language. Supervisors directed staff to return with regular updates and to coordinate with the county's government affairs team and regional partners as bills are introduced; the panel noted state bill introduction deadlines in late February.

What the board did not decide: No specific statutory language was approved; the board authorized sponsorship/support and asked staff and its legislative delegation to pursue bill language. The board did not adopt a particular reimbursement formula or a specific CSIA design; those remain subject to legislative drafting and negotiation.

Public comment and context: Residents and stakeholders addressed the board before and during the discussion. Several public speakers praised first responders and emergency staff for local response during wildfires and outages; others urged broader changes to elections or library and school policy that were outside the scope of the board's action on this item.

What happens next: Staff will work with the county's government affairs office and legislative delegation to draft or sponsor legislation where a state legislator takes the lead, and will report back to the board on progress and on any related requests for formal sponsorship. The board specifically requested periodic updates on implementation and on how many acres of work or specific reimbursement proposals might be advanced.