AB 1642 Is the Bill Standing-Home Survivors Have Been Waiting For

AB 1642 is the testing-and-clearance bill standing-home survivors have been asking for since January 2025. For over a year, insurers have largely controlled whether indoor contaminant testing happens and how limited it is, while many homes, rentals, and PUSD schools still lack comprehensive, health-based testing.

AB 1642 changes that. Authored by Assemblymember Harabedian with Senator Pérez, Senator Allen, and Assemblymember Irwin as coauthors, it directs DTSC and other health agencies to set enforceable contaminant testing and clearance standards, and it is retroactive for January 2025 fire survivors.

In plain terms:

• No more “looks clean” standards.

• No more minimal or inconsistent testing.

• Health-agency set testing standards

This bill is written to be retroactive for the January 2025 LA Fires.

EFRU is asking organizations and individuals to add their names to the AB 1642 endorsement letter before the first committee hearing (Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee).

The deadline to add your endorsement is no later than Wednesday 3/4 at 5pm.

Learn how you can add your organization or your own individual name to the endorsement of this bill.

This deadline has passed.