California SB 492 creates wildfire fast-pay program, restricts legal solicitation, and updates utility executive compensation rules
August 30, 2026
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
Where This Stands
Currently Unknown. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.
Version history & redline
4 versions on fileOfficial version history is partial: 4 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.
The text diff for this stage has not been computed yet.
pdf extract failed: Invalid PDF structure.
The Frame
The bill changes how wildfire victims are compensated, limits how attorneys can solicit clients after disasters, and ties utility executive pay directly to wildfire safety performance, impacting both utility ratepayers and residents affected by future wildfires.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Wildfire victims
Victims gain access to a new fast-pay claim program but face restrictions on selling their claims to private equity.
Electrical corporations
Utilities must comply with new executive compensation rules and may be subject to ratepayer-funded bond obligations.
Attorneys
Legal professionals face new restrictions on client solicitation and caps on fees for specific types of wildfire litigation.
Last recorded activity August 30, 2026.
Introduced.
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this bill affect my ability to hire an attorney after a wildfire?
What happens to utility executive pay if a wildfire occurs?
Can private equity firms buy my wildfire claim?
Why It Matters
The bill changes how wildfire victims are compensated, limits how attorneys can solicit clients after disasters, and ties utility executive pay directly to wildfire safety performance, impacting both utility ratepayers and residents affected by future wildfires.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Property Casualty Insurance Association
2026
“Issues relating to the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program and other Issues related to flood insurance. Issues related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Issues regarding environmental policies and their consideration by insurers and state insurance regulators. Issues related to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. H.R. 7128, TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Property Casualty Insurance Association
2026
“Issues relating to the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program and other Issues related to flood insurance. Issues related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Issues regarding environmental policies and their consideration by insurers and state insurance regulators. Issues related to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program. H.R. 7128, TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, all provisions.”
NATURAL RESOURCE RESULTS LLC
on behalf of PANO AI, INC.
RIVER PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP
on behalf of NATIONAL MOBILE SHOWER AND CATERING ASSOCIATION
CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, INC.
on behalf of FUND FOR A BETTER FUTURE, INC.
THE WAYFINDER GROUP
on behalf of KADDAS ENTERPRISES, INC.
CAPITOL COUNSEL LLC
on behalf of SPATIAL INFORMATICS GROUP, LLC
CAPITOL COUNSEL LLC
on behalf of SPATIAL INFORMATICS GROUP, LLC
COLLECTIVE STRATEGIES & COMMUNICATIONS
on behalf of CAPITOL COUNSEL, LLC ON BEHALF OF SPATIAL INFORMATICS GROUP, LLC
VENABLE LLP
on behalf of BRIDGER AEROSPACE GROUP, LLC
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Executive Accountability
The bill marks a shift toward using executive compensation structures as a regulatory tool for public safety, specifically targeting utility performance during wildfires.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools