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Spencer Pratt, the Republican who ran for Los Angeles mayor, voiced uncommon support for Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff this week, acknowledging the California legislator’s role in advancing bipartisan disaster relief measures aimed at assisting those affected by wildfires. Pratt, who lost his residence during the 2025 Palisades wildfire, expressed gratitude toward both Schiff and Sen. Rick Scott for their collaborative efforts to pass the legislation.
The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act cleared the Senate on August 7, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature. The legislation removes financial barriers that previously prevented disaster victims from claiming tax relief, specifically eliminating the requirement that property damage must exceed 10 percent of an individual’s adjusted gross income to qualify for deductions.
Current law mandates that homeowners earning $100,000 annually must sustain at least $10,000 in damages to claim tax relief. The new bill would erase this threshold for individuals who experienced disasters between December 28, 2019, and July 4, 2025, a timeline encompassing the recent California wildfires that destroyed nearly 13,000 housing units.
The measure additionally designates all wildfire relief payments as nontaxable income. Scott confirmed he and Schiff sponsored the bill after meeting with affected residents, stating the legislation delivers essential assistance to families facing recovery challenges.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the legislation will reduce federal revenue by $408 million over a decade. The 2025 California wildfires caused between $28 billion and $53.8 billion in damages, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
Other conservative Californians also commended Schiff’s efforts. James Johansson, a Republican farmer seeking state assembly office, publicly thanked both senators, noting that Rep. Doug LaMalfa, whose name the bill bears, had been a steadfast advocate for the region before his death in January following a heart-related emergency after 13 years in the House of Representatives.
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