Calderon bill would give legislative leaders nonvoting seats on Fair Plan governing committee

Assemblymember Lisa Calderon introduced AB 234 to let the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate president pro tem each place a nonvoting designee on the California Fair Plan Association Governing Committee.

The measure, Calderon said, is modeled on the California Earthquake Authority and is intended to give top legislative leaders faster access to information about the Fair Plan’s operations as wildfires and other risks shape the state insurance market.

In presenting the bill, Calderon said the two legislative leaders "deserve to have a seat at this table." Josephine Figueroa, deputy commissioner and legislative director for the California Department of Insurance, testified the department is "in strong support of Assembly Bill 234," saying the Fair Plan has become, for some homeowners and businesses, their only option and that "more oversight and transparency are critical to ensuring that it functions as intended." Melissa Werscher, listed by staff as available for technical questions, also appeared in support but did not offer substantive testimony.

Sen. Nigle questioned the need for the change, asking why the Speaker and pro tem "deserve" the seat and how adding their designees would improve transparency given other stakeholders already represented on the governing committee. Calderon responded that designated designees would provide "quicker feedback" and that the Earthquake Authority model provides precedent for similar legislative representation. Sen. Nigle said she was "surprised" by the phrasing that the leaders "deserve" the seat and said she could not support the proposal, citing lack of demonstrated urgency.

Sen. Padilla moved the bill out of committee. The committee recorded a 5–0 tally to advance AB 234 out of the Insurance Committee. The motion was recorded as moved by Sen. Padilla; no second was recorded on the transcript.

AB 234 will proceed to the next committee step as recorded on the committee's roll call.

The discussion occurred during the Senate Insurance Committee meeting; no amendments were recorded on the transcript and no opposition witnesses registered at the microphone.