Senate approves $2.5 billion emergency package to jump-start Los Angeles wildfire recovery

The California State Senate on Jan. 23 approved SBX13, a budget-related emergency measure that is part of a $2.500 billion package to speed cleanup and recovery in areas of Los Angeles County affected by January wildfires.

SBX13 "appropriates up to $1,000,000,000 in one-time general fund for augmentations to departments and agencies to be used in accordance with the disaster response emergency operations account requirements in areas of the state affected by the wildfire state of emergency declared by the governor in January of this year," Senate Majority Leader Scott Wiener said on the floor. The measure also designates $4,000,000 one-time general fund to the Department of Housing and Community Development for a grant program to help local governments expedite homeowner rebuilding, and $1,000,000 one-time general fund for assistance to impacted local educational agencies to rebuild and recover school facilities damaged by the wildfires.

Why it matters: lawmaker supporters said fast cash is intended to remove immediate barriers — debris removal, environmental testing and permitting — so residents can safely return and rebuilding can begin, while other lawmakers urged the Legislature to pair the funding with longer-term prevention and workforce planning.

Discussion focused on immediate relief and future prevention. Senator Seyarto noted existing executive authority, saying, "The Emergency Services Act gives him broad authority along with the California Constitution and the Disaster Assistance Act. He can do all of that with a stroke of the pen." Several senators, including Senator Smallwood Cuevas and Senator Perez, urged that recovery spending be guided by equity and protect historic and low-income neighborhoods such as Altadena and parts of Pasadena; Perez said the Eaton Fire had "claimed 17 lives and... destroyed over 9,000 structures," numbers he cited to underscore urgency.

Senators also raised operational details and constraints. Senator Grove asked whether remediation and hazardous-waste work would involve CalRecycle approvals and whether funds would address property tax reassessments and workforce shortages. Senator Wiener responded that the initial remediation and clearing of toxics will be led by U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers and that the state is "fronting the money, and we will be reimbursed at 100%" by the federal government. He described the package as a rapid first step and said longer-term issues — insurance, workforce capacity and mitigation — would require additional legislative work.

Supporters highlighted school and health protections. Senator Cabaldon urged faster turnaround on school construction permits so students can return, calling for reengineering of state school construction processes. Senator Allen described high lead and chlorine measurements in the days after the fire and emphasized the public-health need for air and water testing.

Vote and next steps: The Senate recorded a roll-call vote in which the measure received 36 yeas, 0 nays; the measure passed. SBX13 will return to the Assembly as part of the package (ABX14/AB4) and proponents said additional supplemental appropriations and statutory cleanup could follow as recovery needs become clearer.

Proponents said the package is intended to provide immediate cash for cleanup, debris removal, environmental testing, expedited permitting and short-term housing and school support; several senators stressed the dollars are an initial down payment and that further work is needed on prevention, workforce development and insurance.

Votes at a glance: SBX13 — Yeas 36, Nays 0; outcome: approved.

Ending: Lawmakers said the funding is meant to accelerate work already under way and to bridge the gap until federal reimbursement arrives, while also signaling the start of a longer legislative effort on mitigation, housing and rebuilding policy.