On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation to strengthen California’s long-term wildfire recovery system, building on the state’s work with survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires, and producing tools for wildfire survivors across the state.

The new laws create first-in-the-nation standards for testing and remediating hazardous wildfire smoke contamination for future fires and require insurers to cover qualifying smoke-damage testing, remediation and restoration. The bills also permanently extend mortgage forbearance protections for disaster-affected homeowners. 

In the wake of the 2025 firestorms, families and communities continue to rebuild after the Eaton and Palisades fires. These new protections will make insurer obligations clearer and give homeowners more financial flexibility when they need it most. As fire seasons across the West become a year-round reality, California’s commitment to recovery must be just as enduring, the government said.

The California Department of Insurance estimates that more than 13,000 of the roughly 40,000 insurance claims filed after the January 2025 fires involve smoke damage to homes that never burned. Until now, no state in the country had enforceable standards for how those homes should be tested, cleaned or restored.

Assembly Bills 1642 and 1795 direct the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the California Air Resources Board to develop the state’s first protections for testing, remediation and restoration of lead and asbestos contamination from wildfire smoke, for homes within a fire’s zip codes. The bills require DTSC to issue guidance to help schools recover after a wildfire. The legislation also requires insurers to pay for lead and asbestos testing and remediation in smoke-damaged homes within a wildfire zone, cover full cleanup and restoration to pre-loss condition and bars insurers from cutting off Additional Living Expense coverage until a home is actually remediated and safe to occupy.

“AB 1642 will set a new national precedent on scientific standards for clearing a home for occupancy after a wildfire,” said California Assemblymember John Harabedian. “Science, not an insurance company’s opinions, will determine whether a home is safe. AB 1842 creates a national model for granting mortgage forbearance to future wildfire survivors, so no family has to immediately pay a mortgage for a home that no longer exists. AB 1847 extends the Mortgage Relief Act (AB 238, Harabedian) for an additional year for survivors of the Los Angeles Fires who are still desperately trying to rebuild.”

ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, launched ISSA Academy, a reimagined online learning experience designed to provide cleaning and facility solutions professionals with a clearer path to career advancement while helping organizations build stronger, more skilled workforces.

Built around the idea that professional development should be a journey, not simply a catalog of courses, ISSA Academy brings together industry education, training and certification in an intuitive learning environment. The Academy centers around Career Pathways, structured learning journeys designed to guide professionals from foundational knowledge and front-line skills through advanced expertise and enterprise leadership.

“With ISSA Academy, we are creating a clearer roadmap for professional growth while giving organizations flexible tools to develop their people,” said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff. “Whether someone is beginning a career in the industry, building specialized expertise, or preparing for a leadership role, we want them to be able to see what comes next and have the education to help them get there.”

ISSA Academy’s Career Pathways provide a five-level framework that helps professionals progress from frontline fundamentals to technical expertise, supervision, management and enterprise leadership. Along the way, the pathways incorporate many of ISSA’s recognized education and certification programs, giving learners a clear understanding of how individual courses and credentials can contribute to long-term career growth.

For example, front-line professionals can build foundational skills through the Cleaning Management Institute’s (CMI) Certified Custodial Technician (CCT) Basic program and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) Trained Technician education program before progressing to advanced CMI training. As professionals move into supervisory roles, pathways incorporate programs such as the CMI Custodial Supervisor Certification, with increasingly advanced education supporting continued progression into management and leadership.

By connecting these established programs within a structured framework, ISSA Academy helps professionals understand where they are in their careers, what skills they need to develop and what learning opportunities can help them take the next step.

ISSA Academy is designed to serve professionals throughout the cleaning and facility solutions industries, including frontline cleaning professionals, building service contractors, facility managers, manufacturers, distributors, residential cleaning professionals and emerging industry leaders.

The platform organizes learning around industry sectors and career development needs, making it easier for users to identify education relevant to their role and professional goals. Current sector-specific areas include building service contractors, healthcare, residential cleaning, K-12 and higher education, manufacturers, distributors, emerging leaders, and advocacy and government affairs, with additional areas planned.

Beyond individual professional development, ISSA Academy provides organizations with flexible options to support employee onboarding, ongoing training, career development and workforce advancement.

Organizations can use ISSA Academy to create more consistent learning experiences across their teams, identify training aligned with employee roles and career goals, and provide employees with opportunities to continue building their skills throughout their careers.

Solutions range from individual courses and career-focused learning bundles to team training subscriptions and enterprise learning options, allowing organizations to develop an approach that fits the size and needs of their workforce.

The launch of ISSA Academy reflects ISSA’s continued commitment to advancing the cleaning and facility solutions industry by strengthening the knowledge, skills and professional development opportunities available to the people who power it.

To explore ISSA Academy and available learning opportunities, visit academy.issa.com.