Spencer Kook Discusses Proposed California Wildfire Toxic Testing Standards Bill

Hinshaw partner Spencer Kook was quoted in a recent Law360 Insurance Authority article discussing AB 1642, a bill being considered in the California legislature that would require statewide standards for testing and clearing homes of toxic contaminants after wildfires.

The bill would direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt emergency regulations establishing benchmarks for investigation, testing, and cleanup, following heightened homeowner concerns in the wake of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

While the current bill leaves many issues unaddressed, Spencer said it could be positive for both the insurance industry and consumers. He anticipated that increased insurance claims costs would lead to premium increases, but added that much would depend on the regulations the Department of Toxic Substances Control ultimately adopted. Said Spencer, "clear and uniformly applied standards specifying what must be tested, how testing must be conducted, and what levels must be met before re-occupancy should reduce litigation over these issues, serve to potentially lower administrative costs, and help expedite claims resolutions."

• • Law360 Insurance Authority: “Calif. Toxic Testing Bill Carries Major Insurance Implications” (February 5, 2026)