Los Angeles and Ventura Wildfire Small Business Recovery Act.

Assembly Member Solache's response to the January 2025 wildfires takes shape in legislation establishing a $50 million recovery fund for affected small businesses in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The bill creates the Los Angeles and Ventura Wildfire Small Business Recovery Act, directing the Office of Small Business Advocate to administer assistance through two existing programs - the Capital Infusion Program and Small Business Technical Assistance Program.

The legislation requires OSBA to create a separate relief program specifically for employees of impacted small businesses. GO-Biz must report to the Legislature on fund allocation, number of businesses assisted, types of aid provided, and assessment of recovery outcomes. The bill includes a sunset date of January 1, 2031.

As an urgency measure, the act would take effect immediately upon passage, with funds restricted to businesses directly affected by the January 2025 wildfires in the two specified counties. The bill's findings note that these fires disrupted business operations and limited access to recovery capital, necessitating targeted state intervention through enhanced technical assistance and funding programs.