Survivors and consumer advocates urge more protections and full compensation as department reports early market gains
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Summary
Public commenters including the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition and Consumer Watchdog said survivors have not yet felt recovery on the ground and warned that streamlining interveners could reduce public participation; industry groups welcomed insurer filings but cautioned the rollout will take time.
Speakers during the hearing’s public comment period acknowledged department progress but urged the committee to keep a focus on survivors’ on‑the‑ground experience and on ensuring full compensation and public participation in oversight.
Will Abrams of the Utility Wildfire Survivor Coalition said, "We don't share the optimism," and criticized utilities and insurers for offering low settlements, warning that undercompensation reduces survivors’ ability to invest in mitigation. He also cautioned that proposed streamlining of interveners could lessen public participation in rate proceedings.
Kim Stone of Stone Advocacy, speaking for Consumer Watchdog, urged the committee to consider policyholder issues alongside SIS implementation, saying insurers "have dropped 3 times as many policies in distressed areas as they have committed to sell, by 2028" (claim made in testimony). Stone called for timely, transparent claims handling, full communication to policyholders and additional measures to keep Californians insured.
Industry and intermediary groups offered qualified support. John Norwood of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California commended the department’s progress and said agents will try to move consumers out of the FAIR Plan as insurers return. Representatives from commercial insurers and trade groups emphasized that rate‑filing reforms and mitigation (including zone 0) are important but warned rollout will be gradual.
Speakers representing foster‑care providers and building industry associations flagged parallel impacts in liability and commercial lines — including provider closures caused by liability insurance pressures — and urged continued interagency coordination and legislative attention.
The committee concluded the hearing after public comment and asked the department to provide follow‑up district and ZIP‑code data to assess whether the SIS and recent filings are reaching the communities most affected.