Dozens of Eaton Fire survivors descended on the California State Capitol on Tuesday, Aug. 25, demanding lawmakers reject Gov. Gavin Newsom's utility liability plan before the legislative session ends Monday, Aug. 31.

Wearing shirts reading "DON'T MESS WITH FIRE SURVIVORS" and carrying signs that said "NO UTILITY BAILOUT," the group rallied at Capitol Park alongside Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, whose 25th Senate District covers both Pasadena and Altadena. The press conference, organized by Every Fire Survivor's Network and Consumer Watchdog, ran from 9 to 9:30 a.m. near 13th and N streets.

At issue is Newsom's proposed "fast-pay" program, which would prioritize payouts to survivors whose loved ones were killed, who were injured or whose property was destroyed. But participants would likely have to waive their right to sue the utility responsible for the fire. For other victims deemed to be "in harm's way," the outline caps damages at $150,000.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire determined in August that electrical arcing from a Southern California Edison out-of-service tower caused the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed nearly 9,500 buildings in Altadena and Pasadena. UCLA estimated losses between $24 billion and $45 billion, which would drain the state's $21 billion wildfire fund created in 2019.

Newsom has defended the proposal. "Status quo is not going to work," he told reporters.

But survivors and their allies say the plan amounts to a utility bailout. Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor's Network, wrote in an Aug. 12 mass email that Newsom is crafting "a secret utility bailout" and that when she asked the governor's office for the bill text, "they said no to my face." The network connects more than 10,000 survivors and allies across the Eaton, Palisades, Malibu and Topanga fire areas.

Pérez has been vocal in her opposition. In a July 31 interview with CalMatters, she said she would oppose any proposal that limits non-economic damages: "I represent Altadena. I have a friend who lost his sister in the fire. How do you put a price tag on losing your sibling?"

Pastor Anthony McFarland, an Eaton Fire survivor, and Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, also participated in the Aug. 25 press conference, according to the event advisory.

The push comes as lawmakers appear to be resisting parts of Newsom's plan. CalMatters reported on Wednesday, Aug. 26, that legislators are balking at key elements of the wildfire package. Survivors also protested outside the Governor's Mansion on Monday, Aug. 24.

The governor's office has insisted that any changes to legislation would not impact payouts for current Eaton Fire survivors. But final bill text had not been publicly released as of Aug. 23. Over the past four years, PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E collectively spent $5.2 million on California political campaigns, and in the first half of 2026, the three utilities reported spending nearly $7 million lobbying Newsom's administration and the Legislature.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger wrote to Newsom in a letter reported Aug. 13 that "faster payments cannot come at the expense of a survivor's right to pursue full and fair compensation."

The legislative session closes Aug. 31. Whether Newsom would call a special session if no deal is reached remains unanswered.