Your home insurance may not cover El Niño flood damage. Here’s what to know.
Your home insurance may not cover El Niño flood damage. Here’s what to know.

While intense storms aren’t guaranteed during El Niño, experts say it’s better to be safe than sorry. Diana Zoga reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
A ‘super’ El Niño is about to crash into California: 9 essential ways to prepare
A ‘super’ El Niño is about to crash into California: 9 essential ways to prepare

Amid warnings of a wet and potentially destructive winter, The Times asked experts for their best tips to be prepared. Read more.
California protects families from hidden smoke damage after wildfires
California protects families from hidden smoke damage after wildfires

Governor signs landmark legislation establishing enforceable standards for investigating, testing, and restoring smoke-damaged homes SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For years, California families have returned home after a wildfire only to discover that the danger did not end when the flames were extinguished. Smoke contamination can linger long…
Coastal damage and a looming El Niño prompt warnings for homeowners to review insurance coverage
Coastal damage and a looming El Niño prompt warnings for homeowners to review insurance coverage

A series of recent coastal hazards, from sinkholes to beach erosion to waves pushing water onto properties, is raising concerns for Southern California homeowners who may not be covered for the damage they’re seeing. Images of a collapsing driveway and eroding shorelines have unsettled many…
Major changes to California home insurance could be coming under bills headed to Newsom’s desk
Major changes to California home insurance could be coming under bills headed to Newsom’s desk

California lawmakers have sent several home-insurance bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would strengthen protections for policyholders by addressing underinsurance, increasing penalties for insurer violations and delayed claims, improving claims transparency, and giving homeowners more notice before coverage is dropped. Read more.
What California’s insurance commissioner does — and how it affects your wallet
What California’s insurance commissioner does — and how it affects your wallet

In November, California voters will choose who oversees one of the biggest insurance markets in the world. Insurance commissioner may seem like an obscure regulatory position, but it’s a consequential one: It leads the Insurance Department, which regulates home, auto, life, health, workers’ comp and…
Get this key protection for your home before El Niño hits California
Get this key protection for your home before El Niño hits California

With El Niño expected to bring heavier and more frequent storms to California this winter, homeowners are being urged to consider flood insurance now, since standard home policies generally don’t cover flooding and some flood policies have waiting periods of up to 30 days before…
Smoke dam­age bills to go to gov­ernor
Smoke dam­age bills to go to gov­ernor

Cali­for­nia is poised to become the first state in the nation to estab­lish stand­ards for how to make homes and schools safe to inhabit after they’re tain­ted by wild­fire smoke, debris and ash. On Monday night, the Cali­for­nia Legis­lature passed two bills that ask state…
California Is About to Change the Rules for Wildfire Smoke Claims
California Is About to Change the Rules for Wildfire Smoke Claims

California is on the verge of doing something no state has done before: establishing a comprehensive legal framework to determine whether a wildfire smoke-damaged home is actually safe and requiring insurance companies to adjust covered claims consistent with those standards. Assembly Bill 1795, the Smoke…
California Wildfire Survivors One Step Closer To Landmark Smoke Damage Protections Bill Sponsored By Insurance Commissioner Lara
California Wildfire Survivors One Step Closer To Landmark Smoke Damage Protections Bill Sponsored By Insurance Commissioner Lara

California wildfire survivors with smoke-damaged homes are one step closer to gaining new protections after the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1795, the Smoke Damage Recovery Act, authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. AB 1795 responds to the…
Legislature approves landmark smoke damage protections bill
Legislature approves landmark smoke damage protections bill

California wildfire survivors with smoke-damaged homes are one step closer to gaining landmark new protections after the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1795, the Smoke Damage Recovery Act. AB 1795, authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, responds to…
California one step closer to first-in-the-nation smoke damage protections for wildfire survivors
California one step closer to first-in-the-nation smoke damage protections for wildfire survivors

Commissioner Lara-sponsored legislation establishes landmark protections for smoke-damaged homes and addresses insurance gaps exposed by both wildfires and the Lineage Logistics fire SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California wildfire survivors are one step closer to receiving landmark new protections after the Legislature approved AB 1795, the Smoke…
Last-resort home insurance surges as climate risks grow – Finance & Commerce
Last-resort home insurance surges as climate risks grow – Finance & Commerce

Surplus home insurance is rapidly expanding as traditional insurers retreat from high-risk areas, leaving homeowners with fewer protections. Read more.
The slow climb toward stability in California’s insurance market.
The slow climb toward stability in California’s insurance market.

As wildfires blaze across Big Sur and much of the West, it might be surprising to hear news that the insurance market in California is showing early signs of stabilization. Katie Rodriguez here, sharing with you all a list of takeaways from a statewide insurance…
FPA Power Of Financial Planning Awardees Named
FPA Power Of Financial Planning Awardees Named

The Financial Planning Association of Central Ohio and FPA of Los Angeles have been named the winners of the 2026 Power of Financial Planning Award for their members’ pro bono work, the national association announced today. The chapters were honored by the FPA and the…
With a strong El Niño expected in SoCal, should you consider flood insurance?
With a strong El Niño expected in SoCal, should you consider flood insurance?

El Niño is officially with us, and it’s looking like it’s likely going to be a doozy. The natural global climate pattern temporarily warms the eastern tropical Pacific, causing extreme weather patterns across the globe. A strong El Niño has historically, though not always, been…
Congressmen Carter, Ezell, Carbajal Introduce STORM FORTIFIED and Wildfire Prepared Act
Congressmen Carter, Ezell, Carbajal Introduce STORM FORTIFIED and Wildfire Prepared Act

Today, Congressmen Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Mike Ezell (R-MS), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation FORTIFIED and Wildfire Prepared Act, or STORM FORTIFIED and Wildfire Prepared Act. This legislation would establish funding to help states finance homeowner mitigation projects…
PRESS RELEASE: United Policyholders receives grant from the American Red Cross to Expand Roadmap to Recovery® and Preparedness Services to Los Angeles Wildfire-Impacted Communities
PRESS RELEASE: United Policyholders receives grant from the American Red Cross to Expand Roadmap to Recovery® and Preparedness Services to Los Angeles Wildfire-Impacted Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE United Policyholders receives grant from the American Red Cross to Expand Roadmap to Recovery® and Preparedness Services to Los Angeles Wildfire-Impacted Communities [SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 13, 2026] United Policyholders (UP), a national 501(c)(3) non-profit consumer advocacy organization with a 35-year track…