Victory for Fire Survivors: AB 1642 Passes the Assembly

AB 1642, the Wildfire Environmental Safety and Testing Act, has passed the California Assembly and now moves to the State Senate. This is a major victory for fire survivors and for the fight to establish statewide, science-based standards for testing, remediation, and clearance after wildland-urban interface fires. The bill passed with 59 assemblymembers voting in favor on the Assembly floor. This win happened because fire survivors, health professionals, scientists, and community partners made their voices impossible to ignore. A major swell of calls and emails to Assembly members, combined with the powerful advocacy of Dena Rise Up the week prior, helped push the bill across the floor.

But the work is not over. As AB 1642 advances to the Senate, we will need continued advocacy to make sure lawmakers understand what is at stake: families should not be pushed back into homes, schools, or workplaces unless safety has been proven through testing and clear health-based standards.

Watch for EFRU Senate action alerts. If you haven’t yet, add your name to the endorsement letter.