Monday, October 13, 2025

Barger Highlights New Wildfire Recovery Laws in Open Letter to Altadena Residents

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued an open letter Monday to Altadena residents and survivors of the Eaton Fire, outlining three newly signed state laws aimed at strengthening wildfire recovery efforts and protecting disaster-affected communities.

The letter, released by Barger’s office, praised Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval of Assembly Bill 468, Senate Bill 571, and Senate Bill 782 over the weekend. Barger said the legislation will help safeguard rebuilding families from looting, accelerate infrastructure restoration, and provide new financial tools for local governments.

AB 468, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, and SB 571, introduced by Senator Bob Archuleta, increase penalties for theft and looting in disaster zones. Barger cited post-fire crime in Altadena as a key concern, noting that nearly 200 Eaton Fire rebuilds are currently underway, with homes under construction and inspections in progress. She said the new laws, combined with increased patrols from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will help protect families during reconstruction.

Barger also acknowledged Newsom’s veto of Senate Bill 629, which proposed changes to Fire Hazard Severity Zone definitions. She said many Altadena residents opposed the bill, and its rejection avoids additional burdens for survivors navigating insurance and rebuilding requirements. While supporting wildfire resilience, Barger emphasized the need for a balanced, data-driven approach that does not hinder recovery.

Senate Bill 782, authored by Senator Perez and sponsored by Los Angeles County through a motion introduced by Barger, creates Disaster Recovery Financing Districts. These districts allow local governments to pledge future tax increment growth to fund recovery projects without raising new taxes. Barger said the County has used similar models successfully and expects SB 782 to deliver long-term benefits for Altadena’s infrastructure, including parks, roads, bridges, and flood control facilities damaged in the fire.

Barger, who serves as Supervisor for the Fifth District and Chair of the Board, closed her letter by reaffirming her commitment to Altadena’s recovery.

“Our community has shown resilience, and I remain fully committed to ensuring Altadena’s recovery stays on track,” Barger wrote.

Here is the full text of the letter:

AN OPEN LETTER TO EATON FIRE SURVIVORS ABOUT NEW LAWS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM IMPACTING WILDFIRE RECOVERY

This past weekend marked another important step forward for our Eaton Fire survivor community. I deeply appreciate Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval of Assembly Bill 468 (Gabriel) and Senate Bill 571 (Archuleta) – two critical measures that strengthen California’s ability to protect communities from looting and opportunistic crime in the aftermath of disasters.

We know too well that recovery must include rebuilding security and trust. After the Eaton Fire, looting and theft shook many families when they were at their most vulnerable. AB 468 and SB 571 increase penalties for those crimes and send a clear message: no one will be allowed to exploit disaster survivors.

This protection comes at a crucial moment. Nearly 200 Eaton Fire rebuilds are now underway, with homes under construction and inspections in progress. These active sites can be targets for theft but this legislation, along with increased patrols from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will help keep families safe as they rebuild. I thank Assemblymember Gabriel and Senator Archuleta for championing these important laws.

I also want to acknowledge the Governor’s decision to veto Senate Bill 629. Many Altadena residents voiced concerns about this bill, and I’m grateful those perspectives were heard in Sacramento. While I supported the bill’s intent to strengthen wildfire resilience, its new criteria for defining Fire Hazard Severity Zones would have created real obstacles for Eaton Fire survivors already navigating the rebuilding process. I firmly believe we must continue to put insurability and hardening against wildfires at the forefront of the rebuilding process. Our approach to wildfire hardening must be data-driven and balanced – protecting communities without placing undue burdens on those recovering from disaster.

Another key development this weekend was the Governor’s signing of Senate Bill 782 (Perez). It gives local governments new tools to help communities rebuild, so I authored the motion for the County of Los Angeles to sponsor this bill. SB 782 helps local governments speed up recovery by creating Disaster Recovery Financing Districts – a faster, more flexible version of the existing Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) model. The County has successfully used these districts in the past, and I’m confident they will deliver meaningful, long-term results for the Eaton Fire recovery.

Beyond homes, the Eaton Fire destroyed parks, roads, bridges, and flood control facilities – vital infrastructure that binds our community together and that our County maintains. Rebuilding this infrastructure is a critical part of the County’s effort to accelerate Altadena’s recovery. By leveraging the financing tools created under SB 782, we will invest in rebuilding without creating or raising new taxes, pledging future tax increment growth to bring resources and investments home to Altadena.

Rebuilding is a long journey. But with strong laws, smarter tools, and leadership aligned, we’re making real progress. Our community has shown resilience, and I remain fully committed to ensuring Altadena’s recovery stays on track.

Sincerely,
KATHRYN BARGER
Supervisor, Fifth District
Chair of the Board