US EditionInsurance Battles Linger After Wildfires. California Lawmakers Propose Consumer-Friendly Regulations
Bills aim to improve wildfire insurance claim processes by increasing transparency, speeding payments, and imposing penalties, while State Farm has paid $5 billion on 13,500 claims.
- This year California lawmakers introduced Senate Bills 876, 877, 878 and Assembly Bill 1559 to change how insurers handle wildfire claims after last year's Southern California wildfires.
- Facing delayed claims, survivors of the Los Angeles-area fires report revolving adjusters and payouts that don't cover repairs, while insurers that pulled back from California increase pressure on lawmakers to act.
- Senate Bill 876 would require insurers to share disaster-recovery plans, notify policyholders within five days of a new adjuster and double penalties to $10,000, while Assembly Bill 1559 regulates drone images.
- Sen. Steve Padilla says the package would expand living-expense limits by 100%, require upfront payments within 30 days, and mandate replacement-cost coverage, while insurers warn it could worsen affordability and availability.
- The bills would require companies to submit compliance reports signed under penalty of perjury to the state's insurance department, supporting Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's effort as State Farm has paid $5 billion on more than 13,500 claims.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News
Insurance battles linger after wildfires. California lawmakers propose consumer-friendly regulations
Jen Egan is still dealing with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire that damaged the home of her 83-year-old father, Paul, last January.
LA Daily News
Wildfire insurance battles: California bills propose consumer-friendly regulations
By Levi Sumagaysay | CalMatters Jen Egan is still dealing with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire that damaged the home of her 83-year-old father, Paul, last January. That has meant more than a year of going back and forth with State Farm, which has assigned three different claims adjusters to their case. Egan also hired a public adjuster to help her navigate the process, who she says has been a “saving grace.” Egan and her father have received…
New CA bills, inspired by fires, seek insurance changes
A large housing development near Pittsburg on Sept, 2, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters Facing insurance claim delays, revolving doors of claims adjusters and payouts that don’t cover the cost of repairs, survivors of last year’s devastating Southern California wildfires still struggle not only with the aftermath of the disaster but also with their insurance companies. In response to their hardships, some California lawmakers are draft…
Fires Burn Fast, Insurance Battles Linger – New Bills
Jen Egan is still dealing with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire that damaged the home of her 83-year-old father, Paul, last January.That has meant more than a year of going back and forth with State Farm, which has assigned three different claims adjusters to their case. Egan also hired a public adjuster to help her navigate the process, who she says has been a “saving grace.”Egan and her father have received some payouts and are preparing to…
Telemundo Area de la Bahía 48
Jen Egan is still grappling with the consequences of the Palisades fire that damaged her 83-year-old father's home, Paul, in January of last year. This has meant more than a year of paperwork with State Farm, which has assigned three different insurance experts to her case. Egan also hired an independent expert to help her manage the process, who, according to her, has been a great help. Egan and her father have received some payments and are pr…
Fires burn swiftly, but insurance battles linger: New bills propose consumer-friendly regulations
Gravel covers a five-foot non-combustible buffer in front of a model home in the Dixon Trail neighborhood of Escondido on April 24, 2025. The buffer zone helps reduce the chances of a home being ignited by the embers from a wildfire. Developer KB Home is marketing Dixon Trail as the first “wildfire resilient neighborhood” in the U.S., constructed using fire-resistant materials and methods.(Adriana Heldiz)This story was originally published by Ca…
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