Business groups and Republican lawmakers opposed the bills, arguing it could drive up prices for companies and, ultimately, consumers.
A June 17 fire at cold storage operator Lineage’s 500,000-square-foot food warehouse left neighbors dealing with noxious smoke and an influx of rats and flies.
Durazo said current rules limit the fines to just a few hundred or thousand dollars.
The law includes several exemptions, including for institutional and educational firms.
Another bill, Assembly Bill 817 by Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles), prohibits the approval of a building permit for a cold storage facility unless the owner or operator of the facility creates a contingency fund, or has insurance, that can end up used for emergency needs for locals, according to the published report.
Both laws apply locally in the short term, but don’t go into effect statewide until July 1, 2028.
Lineage hasn’t responded to requests for comment about the bills.
Greg Lehmkuhl, president and chief executive of Lineage, said in an earnings call last month the company has committed $3.3 million to the community in the aftermath of the fire.
Newsom, in a statement Sunday, said the fire showed “the lasting impact a major facility emergency can have on a community.”
“These laws strengthen the tools, resources and accountability needed to protect residents and help communities respond when emergencies happen,” Newsom said.