State Farm May Lose Its California License. Here’s What That Means for Homeowners
State Farm May Lose Its California License. Here’s What That Means for Homeowners

California is pursuing historic legal action against its largest home insurer, but for wildfire survivors still waiting on claims, the question is whether that means relief In the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating 2025 wildfire season, California regulators have taken their most aggressive action yet…
The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House
The Good Neighbor is in the Dog House

According to the Insurance Information Institute, State Farm insures nearly a fifth of all homes in the United States. Let that sink in. One insurance company holds the financial health of one fifth of all the homeowners in America in their hands. So the claim…
State Farm fined by California regulators over wildfire claim violations
State Farm fined by California regulators over wildfire claim violations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Department of Insurance has sanctioned and fined State Farm, the largest home insurer in both the state and the nation, for 432 violations of the Unfair Insurance Claims Practices Act and other laws. Claims stem from California wildfires What we…
United Policyholders’ One-Year Los Angeles Fire Survey & the Kind of Advocacy Policyholders Deserve
United Policyholders’ One-Year Los Angeles Fire Survey & the Kind of Advocacy Policyholders Deserve

There are very few organizations in the insurance world that have earned the level of trust and respect United Policyholders has. United Policyholders (UP) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 1991 after a Northern California wildfire exposed just how devastating underinsurance and adversarial claims handling…
USAA, State Farm win as court narrows cooperation statute scope
USAA, State Farm win as court narrows cooperation statute scope

The Colorado Supreme Court just gave insurers a new playbook for defending claims – and it could reshape how cooperation disputes play out statewide. In a 6-1 decision issued on April 27, 2026, the court ruled that Colorado’s failure-to-cooperate statute does not apply when an…
United Policyholders LA Wildfires Year One Survey Report
United Policyholders LA Wildfires Year One Survey Report

Full report and survey data Significant Findings: A substantial number, 69%, of households report being underinsured by an average amount of $247 per square foot. The dollar amount is a significant increase from underinsurance data we have collected from previous wildfires recovery surveys. Common claim problems continue…
California Insurance Commissioner Candidates Answer Climate Risk Questions at Ceres-Moderated Forum
California Insurance Commissioner Candidates Answer Climate Risk Questions at Ceres-Moderated Forum

SAN FRANCISCO — On Wednesday Ceres moderated a “first-of-its-kind” forum bringing together six California Insurance Commissioner candidates for a substantive conversation on climate risk, insurance affordability, the California FAIR plan, resiliency ideas and the future of the state’s insurance market. Held at The Historic Klamath…
California Assemblymember John Harabedian Announces Extension of the Insurance Cancellation Moratorium for Wildfire Survivors Passes Assembly Insurance Committee
California Assemblymember John Harabedian Announces Extension of the Insurance Cancellation Moratorium for Wildfire Survivors Passes Assembly Insurance Committee

On Tuesday, Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) announced that AB 2038, which would provide wildfire survivors greater protections from insurance companies’ nonrenewals by extending the period insurance companies must renew existing policies, has passed the Assembly Committee on Insurance. In January 2025, the Eaton and Palisades…
All Eyes on Insurance ~ All Hands on Deck
All Eyes on Insurance ~ All Hands on Deck

California Advocacy UPdate – April 2026 It’s been a busy year for our Advocacy and Action team in California so far. We helped shape the findings of a Commissioner’s Smoke Damage and Insurance Task Force as an appointed member, contributed to an important victory in…
Wildfire Survivors, Consumer and Environmental Groups Slam State Report for Letting Utilities Off the Hook for Deadly Fires, Says Consumer Watchdog
Wildfire Survivors, Consumer and Environmental Groups Slam State Report for Letting Utilities Off the Hook for Deadly Fires, Says Consumer Watchdog

A coalition of twenty-three organizations — including wildfire survivors, consumer advocates, and environmental groups — today blasted the California Earthquake Authority’s (CEA) wildfire report for failing to hold utilities accountable for their role in causing some of the most destructive fires in state history. In…
Even Jane Kim thinks her run for Calif. insurance commissioner is a head-scratcher
Even Jane Kim thinks her run for Calif. insurance commissioner is a head-scratcher

Some people never really leave San Francisco politics. Jane Kim is one of them. After losing a high-profile state Senate race in 2016 and a mayoral bid in 2018, the former supervisor and progressive activist left office in 2019. She went on to work for…
Consumer Watchdog Claims New Regulations from Commissioner Lara Will Silence Consumer Voice in Insurance Rates
Consumer Watchdog Claims New Regulations from Commissioner Lara Will Silence Consumer Voice in Insurance Rates

Ignoring the protests of 32 consumer protection, labor, senior, immigrant, low-income, and public advocacy organizations, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued regulations that will make it nearly impossible for members of the public to scrutinize and challenge increases in home, auto and business insurance premiums.…
Your House Survived the Fire — Now Mold Could Be the Second Wave of Damage Your Insurance Can Cover
Your House Survived the Fire — Now Mold Could Be the Second Wave of Damage Your Insurance Can Cover

You picture a house fire and you think of smoke, flames, charred walls. What most homeowners don’t picture — until it happens to them — is the water. Thousands of gallons of it, soaked into every wall, floor, and ceiling while firefighters did their job.…
Bill to Extend Insurance Moratorium for Eaton Fire Survivors Clears Assembly Committee
Bill to Extend Insurance Moratorium for Eaton Fire Survivors Clears Assembly Committee

A bill authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) that would give wildfire survivors in Altadena and other fire-affected areas more time before insurers can drop their coverage passed the Assembly Committee on Insurance this week. AB 2038, jointly authored by Harabedian and Assemblymember Rick Chavez…
SoCal homeowners face soaring insurance premiums, policies reviewed by A.I.
SoCal homeowners face soaring insurance premiums, policies reviewed by A.I.

For millions of Southern California homeowners, insurance is becoming harder to afford as rates soar. Some are even being told their policies are no longer being reviewed by a person, but instead by an algorithm. “Well, it’s not fair. It’s not fair,” said Paul, a…
California Faces $36 Billion Price Tag to Build Durable Wildfire Catastrophe Fund, State Study Finds
California Faces $36 Billion Price Tag to Build Durable Wildfire Catastrophe Fund, State Study Finds

California would need approximately $36 billion to build a wildfire fund durable enough to last 20 years with a 75% probability of solvency, which is more than double the commitment made in 2025, according to a report submitted to the governor and Legislature by the…
Who Controls Your Home Insurance? A High-Stakes California Race Could Decide
Who Controls Your Home Insurance? A High-Stakes California Race Could Decide

Few statewide elections stand to matter more this year than the race for insurance commissioner — the primary official tasked with stemming a wildfire-stoked home insurance crisis that has sent rates soaring across California. The insurance commissioner leads the state agency that approves rate hikes…
California insurance commissioner defends bill in face of strong opposition
California insurance commissioner defends bill in face of strong opposition

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Wednesday defended a bill that would make broad changes to insurance coverage after a home is destroyed in a wildfire or other disaster, which is facing stiff opposition from industry lobbyists. “Do you really think I would once again…