[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6580053,"mediaKeyId","3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c","parentId",3161332,"title","Insurance committee clears consent-item AB 1531 to Appropriations","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5763000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c&start=5763&end=5763","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c/thumbnail_5763000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580053/California/Insurance-committee-clears-consent-item-AB-1531-to-Appropriations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580053-2501b138320d3a288d82e825285beb51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165143&Signature=jcNzpeyIAhhzukM12X2N91oG1Kdy9RFPY81HuQI8XW3FFgLKD7WD1bPwV8n0Me9wqA9vjTlcD-u8RR-7RhNuiUkTavgX6L41WHGqHL0yTS3K4veiDNI~9R-oT17K~dHn9sp2KDmSiVjbU8BDk7KLKyRFtR8mPIfw~t9F0IofGEHETQapDPSnytSO~kr8Tu-kT6Qsv1WU25HLiUdcWACS7SDmxYonHDYe77~zeMEm1rmDDX2yxLv97rvLHW2D8u7vhfn4RAhmulbSSaJ~8M0ioHwOqK5b-OWFbNkSL3YEW6vpd5Gp6SVJoE6LrVrEq5YZkuFa2hU5u1ccraFKE7G46A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","The Assembly Insurance Committee passed its consent calendar item AB 1531 (Committee on Emergency Management) and referred the measure to the Assembly Appropriations Committee by a voice roll call vote. The item was considered on the consent calendar and received no public comment in the Insurance Committee.

The committee clerk called the roll and recorded aye votes from members present; the measure moves to Appropriations for fiscal review as a consent recommendation.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Insurance Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The Assembly Insurance Committee placed AB 1531, a consent calendar item from the Committee on Emergency Management, on the Appropriations Committee calendar without discussion.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580058,"Committee approves AB 646 to expand consumer disclosures on vehicle protection products and catalytic-converter etching",230,5113000,5343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c&start=5113&end=5343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c/thumbnail_5113000.jpg","/articles/6580058/California/Committee-approves-AB-646-to-expand-consumer-disclosures-on-vehicle-protection-products-and-catalytic-converter-etching","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580058-d3ad5e0b2d9945a36b3aecefd3926410/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165143&Signature=TIN~4TW2ZPgvAZPcuDl6usk~~waTvPcmx5daE5J4YfFQd-OECFePe~2infn~XNQSUfTRTCCxJt8I8y9VjugO0LWapgO0lNGe-nYM9~ByxvDyaYDLbkZ236belyV6qrXeUbPj-K69-3L-ZZeReZBXB1mwkQuSTG~wrTbFDGWXFVuexVoAMBuMOBCLf8iTKJENWZvMrGaLN8RXh-2~dICh1Ei8~JFKAcPTH5gjZvdH9KWelheoY1tHLr1lUGskPI1PAf1FBEPanzc71jLa7jZMHSAu9WBhGZ8W0dk3tqhZIUatJnIg0Ska~~uZ7ciGhsi0tThsLX5TifM8VgDte2tsbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Assembly Insurance Committee voted to send AB 646, authored by Assemblymember Wallace, to the Appropriations Committee after backers said the bill improves consumer disclosure and encourages theft-deterrent measures for catalytic converters.

Wallace and witnesses from the Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association and the California New Car Dealers Association described amendments that add clear disclosure language for consumers at point of sale and preserve consumer choice about theft-deterrent options. Kelly Jensen of the Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association told the committee the disclosure language was crafted with committee staff; Kenton Stanhope of the California New Car Dealers Association said the amendments strengthened the bill.

Supporters included the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and Carmax. There was no lead opposition in the hearing. Committee members accepted the amendments and moved the bill to Appropriations; the committee clerk recorded aye votes on the motion.

If enacted, AB 646 would increase the number of etchings and other theft-deterrent disclosures for catalytic converters while maintaining dealer and consumer options at point of sale, building on prior state efforts to curb catalytic converter theft. The measure will next go to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.

","AB 646, authored by Assemblymember Wallace, advanced to Appropriations after supporters said it improves consumer disclosures and expands theft-deterrent options for catalytic converters; dealer associations and industry groups testified in support and there was no opposition in committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580062,"Committee advances AB 1339 to study insurance costs facing affordable housing providers",517,4413000,4930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c&start=4413&end=4930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c/thumbnail_4413000.jpg","/articles/6580062/California/Committee-advances-AB-1339-to-study-insurance-costs-facing-affordable-housing-providers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580062-69c3e188ffe447a2bf04698d25928d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165143&Signature=h0mIFyed6KDjfwzff0yTPCHE~7z6bQD8QP2IWgdPgF3kaOKjbnxF4qXK1MiQ0x6Wj-x2kapzgVWpN1O~5JwzEVOVVqrRqmM7esSoGxr8P0k7QhgrCknsMpfkoKbcxKN~-5qJG9YKzA6qAyWGAfEolwCkRAvKpjGtN7m~Y1bPmKPDpZSScYEI7tfJQV6FrTqOniwAJ-C1xKWq9pkOwluIQ2yVhCdEt5OJlFGLEnSRFA-~AGyD31c4toj2BPXSpsvbGj4~TWGTZ0kaT5Ej-gLt2m~i-V~3KMTIKGEbVJLQwzMlYKNJchRQUhNNUm-9zk3MDOGxoqeHVGUzEScAShAL6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Isaac Gonzales’ AB 1339, which would require the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to study insurance availability, premium trends and underwriting practices affecting affordable housing providers and to report policy and budget recommendations by Dec. 31, 2026, was approved by the Assembly Insurance Committee and referred to Appropriations.

Sponsor witnesses from Enterprise Community Partners and Housing California said the affordable housing sector has faced steep premium increases—witnesses reported increases ranging from 50% to as much as 4,500% for some organizations—and that those increases threaten providers’ financial viability. “Affordable housing developers are legally required to restrict rents at affordable levels, making it impossible to pass on the costs of rising premiums to their tenants,” Natalie Spivak of Housing California said.

Supporters described the study as a necessary step to get reliable, property-level data on premiums, claims and underwriting factors (including resident populations and income sources) so policymakers can design interventions tailored to affordable housing. Enterprise Community Partners’ Araceli Palafox told the committee the sponsors convened a working group of more than 100 organizations statewide to analyze the problem and that the proposed study would inform longer-term solutions.

No organized opposition appeared at the hearing. The committee approved the bill as amended and referred it to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for fiscal review. The CDI would be directed to consult with insurers, risk-sharing pools and affordable housing entities in preparing the study and to deliver a report with recommendations.

If enacted, AB 1339 would create a data-collection and reporting requirement to inform policy responses to rising insurance costs for properties that serve low-income residents; sponsors said the modest cost of the study is justified by the need to protect billions of dollars in affordable-housing assets and the residents who live in them.

","AB 1339, authored by Assemblymember Gonzales, was moved to Appropriations after sponsors said rising insurance premiums threaten affordable housing providers and that a data-driven CDI study is needed to craft policy responses.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580067,"Committee advances bill requiring automatic payments for FAIR Plan policies",1935,2365000,4300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c&start=2365&end=4300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c/thumbnail_2365000.jpg","/articles/6580067/California/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-automatic-payments-for-FAIR-Plan-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580067-e158fab2a4da170f8d2ab660a272c72b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165143&Signature=Jyv60O473EsZlICE6o~4cQLXDDmaSAysmEdR1NDFyNZh3oA1YQacVCnd0qT08UOG-i-qez7GRSTq5kfqQJxqa53brzjgqpD9WL6ryedEadzFIiH3exO6MrS3SytxBC8ikpZABcXjON3t7-EycT1zwefah94nmfM~kDxNeiixTuwEHQIA~WBKi9iPFp3EfVbEzvDC8BhlumVPM0Sn9Ldr8WZrwV3dy5JDilD6FTaEcRES35cbDPovVyIuNLjBD1aKd9G0YneRvBntrOE0oYFYLtY3qBVqXcfcfOPzKh8kxId9hVF-a6APBI9YRHTpuAZe1F7X1oicrOViaHBn6dR1fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s AB 290, which would require the California FAIR Plan to offer automatic payment options and add a grace-period safeguard against inadvertent nonrenewals, was ordered to the Appropriations Committee after committee members expressed broad support and industry witnesses urged compromise on timing.

Bauer-Kahan recounted personal experience of being moved to the FAIR Plan after losing coverage and said her premium rose roughly 300%. She said the FAIR Plan’s lack of autopay jeopardized continuous coverage for policyholders and prompted the bill to require autopay implementation. “I am not on the FAIR Plan because I want to be. I’m on the FAIR Plan because I have to be,” Bauer-Kahan said.

Consumer advocates including the Consumer Federation of California testified in support, arguing roughly hundreds of thousands of Californians rely on the FAIR Plan and need basic payment tools. The FAIR Plan’s representative, Veil Franco, told the committee the plan is working toward automated payments but asked for a later implementation date than the bill’s April 1, 2026 deadline, and requested removal of a proposed grace period for nonrenewals. Franco cited current operational burdens: catastrophic wildfire claims, implementing wildfire discount programs and expanding commercial policy limits.

Committee members from districts with rapid FAIR Plan growth voiced urgency. One member cited county-level FAIR Plan increases of 300%–560% over four years and urged an urgency clause; others asked to be added as coauthors. The committee accepted amendments and the measure was moved to Appropriations as amended. Members recorded aye votes in roll call.

The bill as amended requires the FAIR Plan to implement automatic payment options and prescribes consumer-notice protections for renewals; FAIR Plan staff and the author’s office said they would continue technical discussions about timeline and the scope of a grace period for nonrenewals.

AB 290 will proceed to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review and any further amendments.","AB 290, authored by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, was approved by the Assembly Insurance Committee as amended and referred to Appropriations. Supporters said requiring the California FAIR Plan to offer autopay and limiting nonrenewal gaps would protect consumers; the FAIR Plan urged more time to implement.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580072,"Assembly committee advances AB 888 to fund home-hardening grants for wildfire mitigation",1434,2030000,3464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c&start=2030&end=3464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3161332-c64114c3a984a677584e37e50bb6647c/thumbnail_2030000.jpg","/articles/6580072/California/Assembly-committee-advances-AB-888-to-fund-home-hardening-grants-for-wildfire-mitigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580072-f0cb3b7a3cbb9e1f06f24976aaa2336a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165143&Signature=R5JIpUT0OpVVKzxV0JhK26DqFbKxZpgp5rlDnEXvbkmNbuHOfknCHdLUbOadbNkAahUMMFLXsG4--dnwUqNVODn7unq~7WdMVbfGjPTTq5qYp3~lGgz-rep4JS33zjXd9vV-5LUQ32KYUW2ewViiRP907AUi4QAxD8eX8MadZG1xltku8vHFfdiUGhrph5VG5may5BHooW0z440SQQ4d~us2N2mwXpwSuaKD4d5rMRnOgNyzJYwP4eFfpzPWM1bmGtF6TzjNSvBC1RS~2Q~5PfavHh52o7fwdQPbimQLzfX1mC4x56Lxv5E1x~MQRVX~WHZg5gtRomPlYDbaTEirdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Luz Rivas Calderon’s AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was moved out of the Assembly Insurance Committee Monday and ordered to the Appropriations Committee after supporters said the bill would create a state grant program to help homeowners pay for home-hardening measures aimed at reducing wildfire risk.

Proponents told the committee the program would fund work such as reinforcing roofs and clearing the first five feet around homes to create a noncombustible zone. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who is the bill’s sponsor, said the grant program addresses an upfront-cost barrier to mitigation that current insurer discount programs do not overcome. “We must empower consumers with the resources needed to undertake vital work,” Lara said.

The bill’s backers framed AB 888 as an evidence-based, market-stabilizing intervention. Lara cited mitigation programs in other states, including Alabama’s Strengthen Alabama Homes and Louisiana’s Fortified Homes program, and said a March 2025 audit of Louisiana’s program showed recipients saw an average 22% decrease in annual premiums and measurable reductions in uninsured losses. Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler, who testified in support, described Alabama’s program history: his department has issued grants since 2016, fortified more than 8,700 homes, and worked with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) standards to certify fortified homes. “When you align public funding with clear science-based risk reduction standards, you can influence the broader market,” Fowler said.

Multiple industry and local-government groups registered support in the hearing, including the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Rebuild Paradise Foundation and the League of California Cities. Committee members from fire-prone and rural districts expressed support, and several asked that the program account for rural communities’ needs. Lara said the program would be data-driven and prioritize wildfire-distress areas.

The committee record shows a motion by Assemblymember Harabedian, seconded by Assemblymember Gibson, to move the bill to Appropriations. The committee clerk called the roll and recorded aye votes from the members present; the bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee with the committee noting the bill as fiscal.

AB 888 would create a new grant program in the Department of Insurance to subsidize specified home-hardening actions. The bill text in committee and witnesses emphasized alignment with science-based mitigation standards (for example, IBHS Fortified standards) and with existing insurer discount incentives under the department’s Safer from Wildfires regulations. The bill’s authors and witnesses described the program as a multi-year commitment intended to shift private-sector practices and expand the number of homes meeting fortified standards.

The measure will now be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where its fiscal implications will be reviewed.

","The Assembly Insurance Committee voted to refer AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, to the Appropriations Committee after testimony from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and other backers who said a state grant program to support home hardening could improve insurability and market stability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Insurance committee clears consent-item AB 1531 to Appropriations

Committee approves AB 646 to expand consumer disclosures on vehicle protection products and catalytic-converter etching

Committee advances AB 1339 to study insurance costs facing affordable housing providers

Committee advances bill requiring automatic payments for FAIR Plan policies

Assembly committee advances AB 888 to fund home-hardening grants for wildfire mitigation