Insurance Industry Pushes “Wildfire” Legislation to Increase Homeowners Insurance Rates
Insurance Industry Pushes “Wildfire” Legislation to Increase Homeowners Insurance Rates

While the rest of the state is sheltering at home, lobbyists for the insurance industry are busy promoting legislation, scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, that would allow them to boost insurance rates on homeowners and renters. The bill would derail voter-approved protections against insurance price-gouging…
Next battle in California with insurers is over home policyholder discounts for cutting fire risks
Next battle in California with insurers is over home policyholder discounts for cutting fire risks

Will Abrams and his family barely escaped from their house in the Riebli-Wallace neighborhood of Santa Rosa as the flames from the 2017 Tubbs fire bore down on their residence. “I had my two) kids under my arms running to our cars and we barely…
California Insurance Commissioner Says Renew California Bill Would Create an Insurance Guarantee to Harden Homes Against Wildfire
California Insurance Commissioner Says Renew California Bill Would Create an Insurance Guarantee to Harden Homes Against Wildfire

Requiring insurance companies to write and renew homeowner insurance policies for hardened homes and communities that meet statewide standard. February 19, 2020 – SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yesterday, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez D-San Diego), Assemblywoman Monique Limón D-Santa Barbara), Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and United Policyholders introduced…
Legislation Designed To Forge Community, Insurance Partnership
Legislation Designed To Forge Community, Insurance Partnership

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez D-San Diego), Assemblywoman Monique Limón D-Santa Barbara), Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, and United Policyholders on Tuesday introduced legislation to give insurance companies a greater role in protecting communities from devastating wildfires. Renew California AB 2367) would require insurance companies to write or…
Renew California’ bill seeks to ease wildfire-fueled homeowners insurance crisis
Renew California’ bill seeks to ease wildfire-fueled homeowners insurance crisis

Insurance companies have been dropping coverage for homeowners living in fire-prone areas, leaving them unprotected at best and unable to keep their homes at worst. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A wildfire-related crisis facing counties all over the state could have one solution in sight. As the…
Most California insurers don’t incentivize fire prevention. A bill would change that
Most California insurers don’t incentivize fire prevention. A bill would change that

A group of state lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates hope the insurance industry can encourage homeowners and communities to harden their homes and neighborhoods against wildfires. That’s the intent behind a newly introduced bill that would set statewide standards for fire-hardened homes and communities. It…
The cost of fire insurance across California is rising at a frightening pace if you can get it at all
The cost of fire insurance across California is rising at a frightening pace if you can get it at all

Homeowners are finding their insurance premiums outpacing their incomes, if they can find insurance at all. Who is responsible for the crisis? AUBURN, Calif. — A crisis has been building in the foothills of the Sierra and other fire-prone communities in California. It’s related to…
State addresses insurance issues
State addresses insurance issues

Homeowners who have faced difficulty renewing home insurance policies can breathe a little easier for now. On Dec. 5, state insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one year moratorium on insurance companies not renewing policyholders, helping at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas…
State bans insurers from dropping policies in fire areas
State bans insurers from dropping policies in fire areas

Helping at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas in Northern and Southern California, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies non-renewing policyholders Thursday. The action is the result of Senate Bill 824 in order to give temporary relief from…
California stops insurance companies from dropping coverage due to wildfires — for now
California stops insurance companies from dropping coverage due to wildfires — for now

Ricardo Lara also called on companies to voluntarily stop sending non-renewal notices in other regions With an increasing number of California homeowners complaining about insurance companies dropping their fire coverage, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday issued a moratorium on non-renewals in some areas, demanding…
Wildfire insurance crisis leads commissioner to call for first-ever statewide non-renewal moratorium
Wildfire insurance crisis leads commissioner to call for first-ever statewide non-renewal moratorium

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Thursday issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies non-renewing policyholders — helping at least 800,000 homes in wildfire disaster areas in Northern and Southern California, a news release states, but Nevada County residents will not be impacted by the…
California to beef up backstop for those losing homeowners’ insurance in wildfire-prone areas
California to beef up backstop for those losing homeowners’ insurance in wildfire-prone areas

California regulators announced on Thursday new protections aimed at helping the growing number of people living in wildfire-prone areas who cannot find adequate homeowner’s insurance. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said that starting early next year his agency will significantly expand a state-created program that acts…
Wildfires Likely to Boost California Surplus Lines Homeowners Share; FAIR Plan Expansion Questioned
Wildfires Likely to Boost California Surplus Lines Homeowners Share; FAIR Plan Expansion Questioned

Wildfires Likely to Boost California Surplus Lines Homeowners Share; FAIR Plan Expansion Questioned Premium volume from homeowners polices written by California’s surplus lines industry, although still small, has doubled over the past four years, seemingly pushed by an increase in wildfires in the state. Some…
Insurance Commissioner to Order Increased FAIR Plan Coverage Options
Insurance Commissioner to Order Increased FAIR Plan Coverage Options

Sacramento, CA…As wildfire risk drives more non-renewals of homeowner insurance across the state, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is taking action to help homeowners find adequate coverage to protect their homes by ordering the FAIR Plan to offer a comprehensive policy in addition to its current…
Kincade fire survivors gather for updates, resources at Alexander Valley Community Center
Kincade fire survivors gather for updates, resources at Alexander Valley Community Center

When the more than 200 Kincade fire survivors who gathered Saturday morning at the Alexander Valley Community Center in Geyserville heard a firefighter introduce himself, they filled the hall with applause. More than half of them had structures burned in the fire. Some lost entire…
California to expand last-resort fire insurance plan for homeowners
California to expand last-resort fire insurance plan for homeowners

With more destructive wildfires burning California, insurance companies are increasingly declining coverage to homeowners As more companies refuse to provide fire insurance to homeowners in a state plagued by increasingly destructive blazes, California’s insurance commissioner said Thursday that a plan once meant to be a…
California to overhaul insurance plan after wildfires
California to overhaul insurance plan after wildfires

SACRAMENTO, Calif. AP) — Californians who lost their home insurance because of the threat of wildfires will be able to buy comprehensive policies next year through a state-mandated plan under an order issued Thursday by the state insurance commissioner. As wildfires threaten the state, insurance…
‘Pioneers’ choose to rebuild against the fire odds in Butte County
‘Pioneers’ choose to rebuild against the fire odds in Butte County

PARADISE — People submit applications for rebuilding permits to the town of Paradise and Butte County every day. On Nov. 1, it was Wade and Courtney Petersen’s turn. “It’s just a really exciting moment,” she said as she filled out the paperwork in town hall.…