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$21B ‘Wildfire Fund’ bill advances, heading to California Assembly

A bill that would create a Wildfire Fund to help utilities pay victims of future wildfires advanced out of committee Wednesday, now heading to the full Assembly.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — State lawmakers are facing a host of bills this week tackling various aspect of wildfire safety and utilities’ roles within that.

One of the most closely watched bills is Assembly Bill 1054, which would establish a $21 billion Wildfire Fund to help utilities pay claims from the victims of future wildfires. Money for that fund would come half from ratepayers and half from the utility companies. The bill would also establish stricter preventive safety requirements for utilities.