Senate committee advances bill to restrict unnoticed drone inspections by insurers

Senator A. Wahab, chairing the California State Senate Insurance Committee, advanced SB 260 on a 5-0 vote to the Appropriations Committee after discussion about privacy, consumer notice and industry operations.

The bill, as presented by Senator Wahab, would establish updated guidelines for the use of unmanned aircraft — commonly called drones — over critical infrastructure and for insurers that use aerial imagery for underwriting and claims inspections. ‘‘Insurance carriers are not required to notify property owners of an aerial inspection,’’ Wahab said, calling the lack of notice “a concern” and framing the measure as one of consumer protection.

The senator said her office worked with the Department of Insurance and committee staff on amendments she planned to adopt if the bill advanced. ‘‘We shared those amendments with the office of committee members,’’ she said, adding the changes remove retroactive provisions and strike an initial two-year prohibition for inspections while adding exceptions and record-retention clarifications.

Jonathan Feldman, lead…