This measure would call on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding for disaster aid and would also call upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the president.

This measure would call on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding for disaster aid and would also call upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the president.

This measure would call on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding for disaster aid and would also call upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the president.

This measure would call on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding for disaster aid and would also call upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the president.

WHEREAS, On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire destroyed 9,413 structures, burned 14,021 acres, and caused 19 deaths in Altadena and nearby communities, and the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,833 structures, burned 23,707 acres, and caused 12 deaths; and

WHEREAS, These historic firestorms in the County of Los Angeles forced nearly 192,000 residents to evacuate their homes, and many of those people have been unable to return; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire devastated a historically Black community in Altadena and had its greatest impacts in neighborhoods with high concentrations of Black families; and

WHEREAS, In the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden on January 8, 2025; and

WHEREAS, This real-time federal support to California included aid provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Small Business Administration and hazardous debris cleanup performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, On January 23, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 4 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session and Senate Bill 3 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session, passed by the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, to provide over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, debris removal and cleanup, and hazard assessments; and

WHEREAS, On January 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump demanded California make unrelated policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, including implementing voter identification laws. Some Republican leaders in Congress indicated support for this unprecedented demand; and

WHEREAS, On February 21, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a formal request letter to Congress, as well as a separate letter to the Trump administration, requesting a supplemental appropriation of $39,680,737,878 for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery; and

WHEREAS, The aid requested by Governor Newsom would support further hazardous waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and numerous other forms of assistance to fire survivors; and

WHEREAS, Federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, and repair infrastructure damage; and

WHEREAS, Fire survivors in the County of Los Angeles are facing the end of mortgage forbearance periods, adding urgency to the need for support; and

WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has repeatedly reiterated the aid request in letters to the White House and Congress, and has revised the request to reflect changes in fiscal conditions; and

WHEREAS, On December 3, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a second addendum and revised request totaling $33,943,967,878, a decrease of over $5.7 billion based on work already paid out; and

WHEREAS, The full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including through a January 7, 2026, letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, Meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without commitment and followthrough from Congress and President Trump; and

WHEREAS, President Trump has refused to respond to Californias request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress; and

WHEREAS, Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire destroyed 9,413 structures, burned 14,021 acres, and caused 19 deaths in Altadena and nearby communities, and the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,833 structures, burned 23,707 acres, and caused 12 deaths; and

WHEREAS, These historic firestorms in the County of Los Angeles forced nearly 192,000 residents to evacuate their homes, and many of those people have been unable to return; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire devastated a historically Black community in Altadena and had its greatest impacts in neighborhoods with high concentrations of Black families; and

WHEREAS, In the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden on January 8, 2025; and

WHEREAS, This real-time federal support to California included aid provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Small Business Administration and hazardous debris cleanup performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, On January 23, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 4 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session and Senate Bill 3 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session, passed by the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, to provide over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, debris removal and cleanup, and hazard assessments; and

WHEREAS, On January 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump demanded California make unrelated policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, including implementing voter identification laws. Some Republican leaders in Congress indicated support for this unprecedented demand; and

WHEREAS, On February 21, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a formal request letter to Congress, as well as a separate letter to the Trump administration, requesting a supplemental appropriation of $39,680,737,878 for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery; and

WHEREAS, The aid requested by Governor Newsom would support further hazardous waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and numerous other forms of assistance to fire survivors; and

WHEREAS, Federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, and repair infrastructure damage; and

WHEREAS, Fire survivors in the County of Los Angeles are facing the end of mortgage forbearance periods, adding urgency to the need for support; and

WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has repeatedly reiterated the aid request in letters to the White House and Congress, and has revised the request to reflect changes in fiscal conditions; and

WHEREAS, On December 3, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a second addendum and revised request totaling $33,943,967,878, a decrease of over $5.7 billion based on work already paid out; and

WHEREAS, The full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including through a January 7, 2026, letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, Meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without commitment and followthrough from Congress and President Trump; and

WHEREAS, President Trump has refused to respond to Californias request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress; and

WHEREAS, Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire destroyed 9,413 structures, burned 14,021 acres, and caused 19 deaths in Altadena and nearby communities, and the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,833 structures, burned 23,707 acres, and caused 12 deaths; and

WHEREAS, These historic firestorms in the County of Los Angeles forced nearly 192,000 residents to evacuate their homes, and many of those people have been unable to return; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire devastated a historically Black community in Altadena and had its greatest impacts in neighborhoods with high concentrations of Black families; and

WHEREAS, In the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden on January 8, 2025; and

WHEREAS, This real-time federal support to California included aid provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Small Business Administration and hazardous debris cleanup performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, On January 23, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 4 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session and Senate Bill 3 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session, passed by the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, to provide over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, debris removal and cleanup, and hazard assessments; and

WHEREAS, On January 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump demanded California make unrelated policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, including implementing voter identification laws. Some Republican leaders in Congress indicated support for this unprecedented demand; and

WHEREAS, On February 21, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a formal request letter to Congress, and as well as a separate letter to the Trump administration, requesting a supplemental appropriation of $39,680,737,878 for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery; and

WHEREAS, The aid requested by Governor Newsom would support further hazardous waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and numerous other forms of assistance to fire survivors; and

WHEREAS, Federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, and repair infrastructure damage; and

WHEREAS, Fire survivors in the County of Los Angeles are facing the end of mortgage forbearance periods, adding urgency to the need for support; and

WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has repeatedly reiterated the aid request in letters to the White House and Congress, and has revised the request to reflect changes in fiscal conditions; and

WHEREAS, On December 3, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a second addendum and revised request totaling $33,943,967,878, a decrease of over $5.7 billion based on work already paid out; and

WHEREAS, The full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including through a January 7, 2026, letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, Meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without commitment and followthrough from Congress and President Trump; and

WHEREAS, President Trump has refused to respond to Californias request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress; and

WHEREAS, Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire destroyed 9,413 structures, burned 14,021 acres, and caused 19 deaths in Altadena and nearby communities, and the Palisades Fire destroyed 6,833 structures, burned 23,707 acres, and caused 12 deaths; and

WHEREAS, These historic firestorms in the County of Los Angeles forced nearly 192,000 residents to evacuate their homes, and many of those people have been unable to return; and

WHEREAS, The Eaton Fire devastated a historically Black community in Altadena and had its greatest impacts in neighborhoods with high concentrations of Black families; and

WHEREAS, In the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden on January 8, 2025; and

WHEREAS, This real-time federal support to California included aid provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Small Business Administration and hazardous debris cleanup performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, On January 23, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 4 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session and Senate Bill 3 of the 202526 First Extraordinary Session, passed by the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, to provide over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, debris removal and cleanup, and hazard assessments; and

WHEREAS, On January 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump demanded California make unrelated policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, including implementing voter identification laws. Some Republican leaders in Congress indicated support for this unprecedented demand; and

WHEREAS, On February 21, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a formal request letter to Congress, and a separate letter to the Trump administration, requesting a supplemental appropriation of $39,680,737,878 for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery; and

WHEREAS, The aid requested by Governor Newsom would support further hazardous waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and numerous other forms of assistance to fire survivors; and

WHEREAS, Federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, and repair infrastructure damage; and

WHEREAS, Fire survivors in the County of Los Angeles are facing the end of mortgage forbearance periods, adding urgency to the need for support; and

WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has repeatedly reiterated the aid request in letters to the White House and Congress, and has revised the request to reflect changes in fiscal conditions; and

WHEREAS, On December 3, 2025, Governor Newsom sent a second addendum and revised request totaling $33,943,967,878, a decrease of over $5.7 billion based on work already paid out; and

WHEREAS, The full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including through a January 7, 2026, letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, Meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without commitment and followthrough from Congress and President Trump; and

WHEREAS, President Trump has refused to respond to Californias request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress; and

WHEREAS, Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AJR 27

Author:(Harabedian and Irwin)

As Amended Ver:June 11, 2026

Majority vote

SUMMARY

A joint resolution of the Assembly and the Senate urging the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock supplemental funding for the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm recovery and for Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles.

Senate Amendments

1) Adds coauthors

2) Other nonsubstantive change

COMMENTS

Palisades and Eaton Fires: The Palisades and Eaton fires began on January 7, 2025 and, exacerbated by extreme fire and windstorm conditions, caused catastrophic damage and loss of life throughout Los Angeles County. At its height, the fires placed an estimated 331,335 people on an evacuation advisory, with nearly 192,000 residents facing mandatory evacuation and roughly 140,000 residents subject to warnings. The blazes burned a combined 37,728 acres, caused a combined 31 deaths, and leveled entire communities in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and Malibu neighborhoods of LA County.

The Eaton Fire became the second most destructive fire in California history after destroying 9,413 buildings. The Palisades Fire is the third most destructive fire in state history with 6,833 structures destroyed. As firefighters were battling the largest conflagrations, additional fires broke out in the Los Angeles area. Crews were able to stop the forward spread and contain the blazes. These fires included the Lidia, Archer, Woodley, Sunset, Kenneth, Hurst and Auto fires, which burned close to 2,400 acres between them.

After the wildfires were fully contained, LA City inspectors assessed more than 15,000 structures in the Palisades. Once these inspections were completed, the focus shifted to ensuring hazardous debris is safely removed. Over 9,000 properties were cleared of hazardous material within 30 days and over 2.5 million tons of ash, metal, concrete, and contaminated soil were removed within nine months. This process was completed with the help of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Major Presidential Disaster Declaration: President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for California on January 8, 2025, following Governor Newsom's proclaimed State of Emergency for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to fire and windstorm conditions on January 7, 2025. The Major Disaster Declaration provided disaster assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds from January 7, 2025, through January 31, 2025.

The President's action made federal funding available to affected individuals in Los Angeles County. Eligible assistance included grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding was also made available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

State Funding: On January 23, 2025, the Legislature passed AB 4 X1 (Gabriel) Chapter 1 Statutes of 2025 First Extraordinary Session and SB 3 X1 (Wiener) Chapter 2, Statutes of 2025 First Extraordinary Session of the 2025–26 First Extraordinary Session, with zero no votes. These bills provided over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, evacuation and sheltering resources, debris removal and cleanup, hazard assessments, school rebuilding and recovery, planning review and inspections, and other actions to protect health, protect the safety of persons or property, and expedite recovery. Governor Newsom promptly signed these bills the same day.

Supplemental Request Letters: Governor Newsom sent multiple letters to Congress and the Trump administration to request a disaster funding supplemental appropriation to assist Los Angeles County's recovery. The original letter, sent in February 2025, requested $39.68 billion.^[1] In the latest revised fiscal request letter, sent in December 2025, the request decreased by nearly $5.74 billion to reflect the funding already paid out for work related to the cleanup process, public assistance, and small business disbursements.^[2] The latest request amount is roughly $33.94 billion.

Federal Response to Requests: President Trump threatened unrelated and unprecedented policy changes that California must implement as a condition for receiving further recovery aid, including:

1. Requiring a change to California water policy, including diverting more water from Northern California to Southern California, which was based on his false claim that California's fish conservation actions in Northern California caused fire hydrants to run out of water during the fires.
2. Requiring California to enact Voter Identification (ID) laws.

On the one-year anniversary of these fires, the entire California Congressional delegation signed a bipartisan letter to President Trump, requesting additional federal support to ensure Los Angeles County receives the resources necessary for recovery.^[3] This letter does not make a specific monetary request, instead requesting that "the communities of Southern California receive their fair share of federal disaster assistance." The California delegation argues the federal government should support the affected families, businesses, and communities in Los Angeles County just as the federal government recently aided communities impacted by "wildfires across the western United States, tornadoes in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas, [and] hurricanes in the Southeast."

According to the Author

"One long year after the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated Los Angeles, Americans in Los Angeles are still in desperate need of federal aid to assist rebuilding. AJR 27 calls upon the President and Congress to unlock funding for Los Angeles so our communities can recover from the fires."

Arguments in Support

According to the California Professional Firefighters:

The devastation in Los Angeles cannot be understated, and while there is unspeakable sadness in the destruction the will and resilience of the people of California has been shown in full force. Significant recovery efforts are already underway following the heroic efforts of over 16,000 firefighters and other emergency personnel to extinguish the blazes and protect the communities across Los Angeles County affected by them. Thanks to their incredible work the losses of life, while tragic, were far smaller than they could have been, and many structures and neighborhoods were saved from ruin.

However, the scope of the work that remains is staggering, and additional disaster funding will provide much-needed support for this recovery. These recovery operations, which are critical for our members, include direct community relief, debris cleanup and recovery, fire-safe rebuilding, and resilient infrastructure repairs and updates. A supplemental disaster declaration and the funding that would become available from it would help working families, small and large businesses, local governments, and public safety agencies that have all been impacted by these firestorms.

There has been strong bipartisan interest in providing assistance to the citizens and communities of Los Angeles that our members have sworn to protect, and we strongly support all efforts to ensure that this funding reaches the people who need it most. For these reasons, we are proud to support this important measure. For these reasons, we are proud to support this important measure.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

Although a fiscal committee has not analyzed this bill, Governor Newsom's revised Fiscal Request letter to Congress, regarding the Los Angeles recovery to the January 2025 firestorms, identifies $33,943,967,878 in requested federal aid.

VOTES:

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 68-0-12

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Schultz, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

ABS, ABST OR NV: DeMaio, Dixon, Gallagher, Hadwick, Johnson, McKinnor, Ramos, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Sharp-Collins, Tangipa, Valencia

SENATE FLOOR: 36-0-4

YES: Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarado-Gil, Dahle, Jones, Reyes

UPDATED

VERSION: June 11, 2026

CONSULTANT: Ryan Fleming / E.M. / (916) 319-3802 FN: 0003213

1. https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000195-2dbd-d7dd-a1b7-edbd50ec0000 ↑

2. https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/California-Fed-Supp-Approps-Letter-Dec-3-Update.pdf ↑

3. https://www.padilla.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/CA-Delegation-Letter-to-POTUS-re-LA-Fires-Anniversary.pdf ↑

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AJR 27

Author: Harabedian (D) and Irwin (D), et al.

Amended: 6/11/26 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE EMERGENCY MGT. COMMITTEE: 9-0, 6/16/26

AYES: Stern, Seyarto, Allen, Blakespear, Grayson, Grove, McNerney, Pérez, Rubio

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 68-0, 2/26/26 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Federal disaster aid: 2025 Los Angeles fires

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution urges the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock supplemental funding for the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm recovery and calls on Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide emergency assistance to states and local entities impacted by disasters, as specified. In an emergency, the President may, among other things, authorize public assistance programs to provide essential emergency assistance, repair and restore damaged public infrastructure, and remove debris.

This resolution:

1. Resolves that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, urge the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock funding to aid in recovery from the Los Angeles fires.
2. Resolves that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, call on Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States.
3. States that on January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles, as specified.
4. States that in the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden, as specified.
5. States that President Donald J. Trump demanded unrelated and unprecedented policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, as specified.
6. States that Governor Newsom sent formal request letters to Congress and the Trump administration requesting a supplemental appropriation of over $39 million for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery, as specified, which was later revised to reflect work already paid out.
7. States that federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, repair infrastructure damage, and other recovery needs, as specified.
8. States that the full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including in a letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
9. States that meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without Congress and President Trump.
10. States that President Trump has refused to respond to California’s request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress.
11. States that Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
12. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

Background

Author Statement. According to the author’s office, “[Over a] year after the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated Los Angeles, Americans in Los Angeles are still in desperate need of federal aid to assist rebuilding. AJR 27 calls upon the President and Congress to unlock funding for Los Angeles so our communities can recover from the fires.”

Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. On January 8, 2025, former President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) for California, following Governor Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency for the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires in the LA region. The MDD provided disaster assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and winds from January 7^th through the 31st. Available federal funding to affected individuals in LA County included grants, low-cost loans and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding was also made available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures.

State funding. In January 2025, the Legislature and Governor took swift budget action to provide $2.5 billion for recovery efforts related to damage caused by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. As noted by the Department of Finance, these communities face a long and complex recovery process, requiring significant state and federal support to rebuild safely and restore services. Recovery operations include managing emergency protective measures, such as evacuations, sheltering for survivors, and traffic control; performing debris and waste removal; supporting post-fire hazard assessments, remediation and environmental testing; and providing public assistance to repair infrastructure and supporting continuous liaison activities to help the impacted communities navigate FEMA assistance.

Funding Request Letters. Governor Newsom has sent letters to Congress and the Trump administration to request a disaster funding supplemental appropriation to bolster LA County’s recovery. As of March 2026, the request from California for federal aid for LA fire recovery reflects revised estimates, based on current circumstances and close coordination with local stakeholders for immediate advancement of aid for a targeted set of the highest priority federal programs, as follows:

1. Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery: $10.5B
2. Economic Development Administration Business Grants: $179M
3. Child Care Development Block Grant: $240M
4. Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $202M
5. Transportation Infrastructure: $156M
6. FEMA Public Assistance: $3B in eligible projects
7. FEMA Hazard Mitigation: $750M
8. Small Business Administration Loans: Increase loan limits and create flexible disbursement and repayment rules to support residents throughout reconstruction

According to the Governor’s Office, these figures and flexibility requests reflect strong alignment with local priorities and incorporate specific projects and needs identified by local governments and residents.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/17/26)

California Professional Firefighters

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/17/26)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: In support of the resolution, the California Professional Firefighters, writes that, “There has been strong bipartisan interest in providing assistance to the citizens and communities of Los Angeles that our members have sworn to protect, and we strongly support all efforts to ensure that this funding reaches the people who need it most. For these reasons, we are proud to support this important measure.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 68-0, 2/26/26

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Schultz, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: DeMaio, Dixon, Gallagher, Hadwick, Johnson, McKinnor, Ramos, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Sharp-Collins, Tangipa, Valencia

Prepared by: Cassie Royce / E.M. /

6/18/26 16:33:43

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Senator Henry Stern

Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: 6/16/2026

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY: Urges the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock supplemental funding for the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm recovery and calls on Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

Establishes the federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide emergency assistance to states and local entities impacted by disasters, as specified. In an emergency, the President may, among other things, authorize public assistance programs to provide essential emergency assistance, repair and restore damaged public infrastructure, and remove debris.

This resolution:

1. Resolves that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, urge the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock funding to aid in recovery from the Los Angeles fires.
   
2. Resolves that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, call on Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States.
   
3. States that on January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles, as specified.
4. States that in the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden, as specified.
5. States that President Donald J. Trump demanded unrelated and unprecedented policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, as specified.
6. States that Governor Newsom sent formal request letters to Congress and the Trump administration requesting a supplemental appropriation of over $39 million for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery, as specified, which was later revised to reflect work already paid out.
7. States that federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, repair infrastructure damage, and other recovery needs, as specified.
8. States that the full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including in a letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
   
9. States that meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without Congress and President Trump.
   
10. States that President Trump has refused to respond to California’s request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress.
    
11. States that Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
    
12. Resolves that the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

Background

Author Statement. According to the author’s office, “[Over a] year after the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated Los Angeles, Americans in Los Angeles are still in desperate need of federal aid to assist rebuilding. AJR 27 calls upon the President and Congress to unlock funding for Los Angeles so our communities can recover from the fires.”

Los Angeles Fires. In January 2025, Los Angeles County was hit by multiple catastrophic wildfires, of which the Palisades and Eaton Fires were the most destructive. The Palisades Fire started in the Santa Monica Mountains and caused major destruction in Pacific Palisades (a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles), Topanga (an unincorporated area of LA County), and the City of Malibu. It burned 23,448 acres, destroying nearly 7,000 structures and damaging an additional 973 structures. The Eaton Fire started in the Eaton Canyon area of the San Gabriel Mountains and was driven by Santa Ana winds into several foothill communities, particularly Altadena (an unincorporated area of LA County). It burned 14,000 acres, destroying more than 9,000 structures and damaging an additional 1,074 structures. Both fires were brought to full containment by January 31^st.

Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. On January 8, 2025, former President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) for California, following Governor Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to the fire and windstorm conditions from January 2025. The MDD provided disaster assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and winds from January 7^th through the 31st. Available federal funding to affected individuals in LA County included grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding was also made available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

State funding. In January 2025, the Legislature and Governor took swift budget action to provide $2.5 billion for recovery efforts related to damage caused by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. As noted by the Department of Finance, these communities face a long and complex recovery process, requiring significant state and federal support to rebuild safely and restore services. Recovery operations include managing emergency protective measures, such as evacuations, sheltering for survivors, and traffic control; performing debris and waste removal; supporting post-fire hazard assessments, remediation and environmental testing; and providing public assistance to repair infrastructure and supporting continuous liaison activities to help the impacted communities navigate FEMA assistance.

Funding Request Letters. Governor Newsom has sent letters to Congress and the Trump administration to request a disaster funding supplemental appropriation to bolster LA County’s recovery. The original letter, sent in February 2025, requested nearly $40 billion in assistance. As of March 2026, the request from California for federal aid for LA fire recovery reflects revised estimates, based on current circumstances and close coordination with local stakeholders for immediate advancement of aid for a targeted set of the highest priority federal programs, as follows:

1. Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery: $10.5B
2. Economic Development Administration Business Grants: $179M
3. Child Care Development Block Grant: $240M
4. Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $202M
5. Transportation Infrastructure: $156M
6. FEMA Public Assistance: $3B in eligible projects
7. FEMA Hazard Mitigation: $750M
8. Small Business Administration Loans: Increase loan limits and create flexible disbursement and repayment rules to support residents throughout reconstruction

According to the Governor’s Office, these figures and flexibility requests reflect strong alignment with local priorities and incorporate specific projects and needs identified by local governments and residents.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT:

California Professional Firefighters

OPPOSITION:

None on file

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: In support of the resolution, the California Professional Firefighters, writes that, “There has been strong bipartisan interest in providing assistance to the citizens and communities of Los Angeles that our members have sworn to protect, and we strongly support all efforts to ensure that this funding reaches the people who need it most. For these reasons, we are proud to support this important measure.”

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 27

Author:(Harabedian and Irwin)

As Introduced Ver:February 13, 2026

Majority vote

SUMMARY

A joint resolution of the Assembly and the Senate urging the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to Congress to unlock supplemental funding for the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm recovery and for Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles.

Major Provisions

1) States on January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire in the County of Los Angeles, began forcing evacuations and devastating communities in the County of Los Angeles, as specified.

2) States in the immediate aftermath of the fires, the County of Los Angeles received federal support following a major disaster declaration by President Joseph R. Biden, as specified.

3) States President Donald J. Trump demanded unrelated and unprecedented policy changes as a condition for receiving further federal aid, as specified.

4) States Governor Newsom sent formal request letters to Congress and the Trump administration requesting a supplemental appropriation of $39,680,737,878 for disaster funding to aid the County of Los Angeles in recovery, as specified, which was later revised to a total of $33,943,967,878, a decrease of over $5.7 billion based on work already paid out.

5) States federal assistance is critical to ensure the County of Los Angeles has all the necessary resources to fund the rebuilding of homes, schools, and community facilities, support the local economy, repair infrastructure damage, and other recovery needs, as specified.

6) States the full bipartisan California congressional delegation has supported federal aid for recovery in the County of Los Angeles, including in a letter signed by all sitting California members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

7) States meeting the recovery needs of the County of Los Angeles will require supplemental aid, and that cannot be provided without Congress and President Trump.

8) States President Trump has refused to respond to California’s request and has failed to submit a funding proposal to Congress.

9) States Congress and Presidents of both parties have historically approved supplemental aid after natural disasters with bipartisan support and no conditions, including aiding Florida after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

10) Resolves that the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration to the United States Congress to unlock funding.

11) Resolves that the Legislature calls upon the United States Congress to approve supplemental aid to support the County of Los Angeles, regardless of whether it receives a request from the President of the United States.

COMMENTS

Palisades and Eaton Fires: The Palisades and Eaton fires began on January 7, 2025 and, exacerbated by extreme fire and windstorm conditions, caused catastrophic damage and loss of life throughout Los Angeles County. At its height, the fires placed an estimated 331,335 people on an evacuation advisory, with nearly 192,000 residents facing mandatory evacuation and roughly 140,000 residents subject to warnings. The blazes burned a combined 37,728 acres, caused a combined 31 deaths, and leveled entire communities in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, and Malibu neighborhoods of LA County.

The Eaton Fire became the second most destructive fire in California history after destroying 9,413 buildings. The Palisades Fire is the third most destructive fire in state history with 6,833 structures destroyed. As firefighters were battling the largest conflagrations, additional fires broke out in the Los Angeles area. Crews were able to stop the forward spread and contain the blazes. These fires included the Lidia, Archer, Woodley, Sunset, Kenneth, Hurst and Auto fires, which burned close to 2,400 acres between them.

After the wildfires were fully contained, LA City inspectors assessed more than 15,000 structures in the Palisades. Once these inspections were completed, the focus shifted to ensuring hazardous debris is safely removed. Over 9,000 properties were cleared of hazardous material within 30 days and over 2.5 million tons of ash, metal, concrete, and contaminated soil were removed within nine months. This process was completed with the help of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Major Presidential Disaster Declaration: President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for California on January 8, 2025, following Governor Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to fire and windstorm conditions on January 7, 2025. The Major Disaster Declaration provided disaster assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds from January 7, 2025, through January 31, 2025.

The President's action made federal funding available to affected individuals in Los Angeles County. Eligible assistance included grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding was also made available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

State Funding: On January 23, 2025, the Legislature passed AB4 and SB3 of the 2025–26 First Extraordinary Session, with zero no votes. These bills provided over $2.5 billion in immediate disaster relief funding, including emergency response activities, evacuation and sheltering resources, debris removal and cleanup, hazard assessments, school rebuilding and recovery, planning review and inspections, and other actions to protect health, protect the safety of persons or property, and expedite recovery. Governor Newsom promptly signed these bills the same day.

Supplemental Request Letters: Governor Newsom sent multiple letters to Congress and the Trump administration to request a disaster funding supplemental appropriation to assist Los Angeles County’s recovery. The original letter, sent in February 2025, requested $39.68 billion. In the latest revised fiscal request letter, sent in December 2025, the request decreased by nearly $5.74 billion to reflect the funding already paid out for work related to the cleanup process, public assistance, and small business disbursements. The current request amount is roughly $33.94 billion and specifically requests the following:

1) Business Recovery:

a) Business Loans: $4.3B

b) Business Grants: $4.3B

2) Tax Incentivized Recovery:

a) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: $2B

b) Tax Relief (no specific monetary request, but rather a request to allow non-itemized deductions for casualty losses, as specified; penalty-free access to retirement funds; disaster-related employment relief; earned income tax credit reporting-year flexibility; and enhancement of charitable giving incentives.)

3) Community and Private Property Recovery:

a) Public Assistance: $11.77B

b) Housing and Business: $9.9B

c) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): $36.25M

d) Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): $12.89M

e) Child welfare grant programs: $1M

f) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): $1.5M

g) Water Infrastructure: $432.3M

h) Brownfields: $5M

i) Air Quality: $2M

j) Transport Infrastructure: $112.8M

4) Workforce Recovery:

a) Displaced Workers: $51M

b) Workforce Childcare and Health: $375.8M

5) Wildfire Resilience:

a) Federal Lands: $350M

b) Mapping and Modeling: $2M

Federal Response to Requests: President Trump threatened unrelated and unprecedented policy changes that California must implement as a condition for receiving further recovery aid, including:

Requiring a change to California water policy, including diverting more water from Northern California to Southern California, which was based on his false claim that

According to the Author

“One long year after the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated Los Angeles, Americans in Los Angeles are still in desperate need of federal aid to assist rebuilding. AJR 27 calls upon the President and Congress to unlock funding for Los Angeles so our communities can recover from the fires.”

Arguments in Support

None on file.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

Although a fiscal committee has not analyzed this bill, Governor Newsom’s revised Fiscal Request letter to Congress, regarding the Los Angeles recovery to the January 2025 firestorms, identifies $33,943,967,878 in requested federal aid.

VOTES

UPDATED

VERSION: February 13, 2026

CONSULTANT: Brenda Harris / E.M. / (916) 319-3802 FN: 0002284