California Lawmakers Pass Bill on PG&E Wildfire Liability

California Lawmakers Pass Bill on PG&E Wildfire Liability
A firefighting crew drives pass a business destroyed in wildfire that tore through Santa Rosa, California, on Oct. 15, 2017. Reuters/Jim Urquhart
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SAN FRANCISCO—California’s legislature passed a bill late on Aug. 31 that could help the utility Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (PG&E) avoid potentially crippling liabilities for wildfires that ravaged northern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area last year.

The bill, passed 29 to 4 in the Senate and 45 to 10 in the Assembly, requires approval by Democrat Governor Jerry Brown.