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…
Why insurance matters to renters, landlords and California
Why insurance matters to renters, landlords and California

Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the Golden State. A year and a half after the Eaton Fire, Gil Barel…
Four myths about insurance in California
Four myths about insurance in California

Many Californians have seen rising costs, less availability and are running into other issues with insurance — including delays and denials of their claims — in the past several years. As climate change increases the risk of wildfires and other disasters, it’s important to know…
Landmark California Supreme Court Decision Finds For Policyholder In Insurer Exhaustion Dispute
Landmark California Supreme Court Decision Finds For Policyholder In Insurer Exhaustion Dispute

California Supreme Court Restores Policyholders’ Ability to Pursue Declaratory Relief and Bad Faith Claims in Fox Paine & Co., LLC v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. In a huge victory for policyholders in the Golden State, the California Supreme Court has confirmed that policyholders may proceed with…
11 Organizations Call on CDI to Strengthen Long-Term Solvency Planning Proposal
11 Organizations Call on CDI to Strengthen Long-Term Solvency Planning Proposal

Commissioner Ricardo Lara California Department of Insurance 300 Capitol Mall, 17th Floor Sacramento, CA 98514 Re: Response to REG-2025-00025 Documenting Long-term Solvency Planning and Capital Needs Analyses. Dear Commissioner Lara, The undersigned organizations support the California Department of Insurance (CDI) requiring insurers to engage in…