Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Consumer Protection Insurance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill requiring notice and consumer rights when insurers use aerial images
Summary
AB 75 would require insurers to notify homeowners before gathering aerial images of insured residences, give homeowners access to those images, and ensure images relied on for cancellation or nonrenewal are recent; the bill advanced to Appropriations after committee amendments.
AB 75, authored by Assemblymember Calderon, passed the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee and was referred to Appropriations following testimony about increasing insurer use of aerial imagery (drones, satellites and aircraft) for underwriting and renewal decisions.
Claudia Milner from the Department of Insurance told the committee that consumers have reported being surprised by nonrenewals based on aerial photos that were inaccurate or stale. "AB 75 would require residential property insurers in California to give notice before they capture or obtain aerial images of the insured property," Milner said. The bill also grants homeowners the right to request copies of aerial images, to request an in‑person inspection before an insurer takes adverse action, and, as amended, requires images relied on for nonrenewal or cancellation to be no older than 45 days.
Industry groups, including trade associations representing personal insurers, surplus lines carriers and others, opposed aspects of the bill or offered an "oppose unless amended" position. Insurer witnesses said aerial imaging reduces inspection costs and expands the number of properties that can be underwritten; they warned that mandatory in‑person inspections could drive up costs and reduce availability. Privacy advocates argued for additional data‑minimization and downstream‑sharing safeguards, and consumer groups urged automatic delivery of images to homeowners rather than requiring requests.
Committee members and the author discussed gaps the bill does not yet reach — for example, surplus lines and Fair Plan inspections — and the author said she would continue to work with industry on implementation details. The committee accepted amendments and passed AB 75 to Appropriations.
Supporters emphasized notice, access to images and the right to fix errors; opponents asked for carve‑outs to preserve cost‑effective remote inspections and to ensure the bill does not unintentionally worsen insurance availability in high‑risk markets.
AB 75 proceeds to the Appropriations Committee with amendments and ongoing negotiations between the author, the Department of Insurance and industry stakeholders.
