Share Your Experience With AB 238 Mortgage Relief with Legislators

Assemblymember Harabedian is inviting constituents impacted by the Eaton and Palisades Fires to share their experiences navigating mortgage forbearance and relief. Selected respondents will be invited to speak in person at an Outcomes Review Hearing on AB 238 at Pasadena City College on March 20 at 10am, where the California Assembly Banking and Finance Committee will hear what is working and where the legislation can be improved.

Constituents may submit their experiences either as a written statement or for consideration as an in-person speaker at the hearing. Harabedian’s staff will review submissions and select 10 constituents to participate.

AB 238 was passed to provide mortgage relief for homeowners impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The law allows eligible borrowers to request mortgage forbearance for up to one year, giving families time to recover without having to immediately resume mortgage payments. It included important protections, such as:

• No lump-sum repayment requirement at the end of forbearance.
• Credit reporting protections so accessing relief would not impact borrowers' credit.
• Requirements that mortgage servicers provide clear information and process requests in a timely manner.

This hearing is meant to help legislators understand how these protections worked in practice, where the process succeeded, and where improvements may be needed. The committee is particularly interested in experiences related to:

• Urgency - How quickly your mortgage servicer responded when you requested assistance.
• Dissemination of information - Whether you received clear and accurate information about your options under AB 238.
• Handling by mortgage servicers - Your experience working with your mortgage company during the recovery process.

If selected, you will have 4 minutes to share your story with the committee. Submit a brief summary of your experience here.