Republican former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has praised Democratic Senator Adam Schiff for his involvement in securing bipartisan disaster relief legislation aimed at assisting wildfire victims like himself. “Major props to [Sen. Adam Schiff] and [Sen. Rick Scott] for working across the aisle to get this done,” Pratt noted, acknowledging the challenges of disaster recovery and highlighting the importance of financial relief.
Pratt lost his home during the Palisades wildfire in 2025. He referred to the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, which was passed by the Senate on August 7. The Act is now awaiting approval from President Donald Trump.
Details of the Legislation
Under existing rules, an individual can claim a disaster relief tax break only if the damage to their property from a federally declared disaster is at least 10% of their adjusted gross income. For example, someone with an annual income of $100,000 would need to incur $10,000 in damages to qualify for the deduction.
If enacted, the new legislation would remove this threshold for individuals affected by disasters between December 28, 2019, and July 4, 2025. This period includes the devastating California wildfires that impacted Pratt and many others served by Schiff.
In addition, the bill makes all wildfire relief payments exempt from taxable income. The 2025 California wildfires destroyed about 13,000 housing units, resulting in damages estimated between $28.0 billion and $53.8 billion, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
Sponsorship and Support
Senator Rick Scott expressed his determination to fight for this relief after visiting Los Angeles and witnessing the aftermath of the fires with Pratt. “After meeting with him, we fought to get this done,” Scott stated, acknowledging Pratt’s efforts in assisting the delivery of much-needed aid for wildfire victims.
James Johansson, a Republican farmer running for the California State Assembly, also commended Scott and Schiff for their dedication. He recognized the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, after whom the bill is named, as a significant advocate for agricultural interests during his 13-year tenure in the House of Representatives.
Financial Impact
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act will reduce federal revenue by $408 million between 2026 and 2036.
Schiff’s office did not provide comments when contacted by Fox News Digital regarding the passage of the legislation.