Saturday, October 11, 2025

Altadena’s Eaton Fire Survivors Gain New Recovery Tool Under SB 782

A new California law signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to accelerate rebuilding efforts in Altadena neighborhoods impacted by the Eaton Fire, granting local governments expanded authority to invest in disaster recovery and resilience.

Senate Bill 782, authored by State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez and sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, enables cities and counties to establish “disaster recovery financing districts.” These districts allow local agencies to reinvest tax revenue directly into fire-damaged communities, bypassing delays often associated with traditional state funding mechanisms.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for communities across California still healing from wildfires and other disasters,” Barger said in a statement. “With Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 782, that I was proud to sponsor, we now have a mechanism to rebuild with resilience, restore critical infrastructure, and revitalize neighborhoods hurt by catastrophe.”

The Eaton Fire, which scorched portions of Altadena and surrounding foothill areas, left behind extensive damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. SB 782 is designed to streamline recovery by fast-tracking planning procedures and enabling local governments to share incremental tax revenue more easily.

“I will continue working with our County teams, planners, fire safety officials, and community leaders in and around the Eaton area to move quickly and responsibly to establish a disaster recovery financing district to uplift survivors and rebuild stronger,” Barger added.

Because SB 782 is classified as an urgency measure, it takes effect immediately. That means Altadena officials can begin planning recovery efforts without delay.

The law allows funds generated through these districts to be spent exclusively within the disaster-affected area. That includes repairing and replacing damaged housing and infrastructure, hardening buildings and landscapes against future fire risk, supporting economic recovery, and investing in resilience upgrades to better protect communities in the future.

Another key provision requires that each district’s governing board include residents, business owners, or property owners from within the impacted area. This ensures that those most affected by the disaster will have a direct say in how recovery dollars are prioritized and spent.

Supporters say the legislation offers a path toward long-term stability and resilience rather than temporary fixes, and could serve as a model for other California communities recovering from wildfires and other disasters.