Assembly Members Gabriel and Rivas have proposed legislation to protect Los Angeles County residents displaced by wildfires from being subject to standard eviction procedures while staying in temporary lodging. The measure addresses the immediate housing needs of over 100,000 residents who lost their homes to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025.

Under the bill's provisions, individuals staying in hotels, motels, or short-term lodging after losing their residence to wildfires in Los Angeles County would not establish new tenancy rights through continued occupancy. These guests would remain exempt from classification as tenants under California's unlawful detainer statutes, which typically govern eviction proceedings. The measure maintains existing tenant-landlord law while creating a specific carve-out for this category of displaced residents.

The Legislature's findings cite the unprecedented scale of residential displacement in Los Angeles County as justification for these targeted protections. The bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for enactment. This approach allows the provisions to take effect without the standard delay, enabling faster response to ongoing displacement needs.