Legislators and tribal leaders press insurers and state agencies over soaring home insurance costs on tribal lands

Members of the California State Assembly’s Select Committee on Native American Affairs met March 13, 2026 on Barona tribal land to examine how rising homeowners insurance costs are affecting tribal communities across the state. Tribal leaders, tribal fire chiefs and state officials described active mitigation work on reservations and said that, despite local efforts, many members face sharply higher premiums or lack of coverage altogether.

Raymond Wells, chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, told the committee that his community has seen premiums “from $6,000 to $18,000 per year” on homes they track and warned that unaffordable insurance can threaten tribal housing and sovereignty. “We will fight to ensure that insurance costs never force a single member to leave their home,” Wells said.

Several tribal leaders and fire chiefs described extensive local mitigation and emergency-response capacity. Isaiah Vivanco, chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, said Soboba reduced its Public Protection Classification from a 3 to a 2 and that his tribe has invested in a fire department and a WUI crew. Pechanga Fire Chief Jason Keeling and Verona (Barona) Fire Chief Ken Krimsky…