SACRAMENTO, California — Democratic lawmakers are reviving a proposal that would bar property insurers from denying coverage for homeowners who meet state fire-hardening standards.
What happened: State Sen. Sasha Renée Perez introduced SB 1076 on Friday, along with co-author state Sen. Mike McGuire. The bill would prohibit private insurers regulated by the state from refusing coverage to homeowners whose properties comply with minimum home-hardening and wildfire mitigation standards, with limited exceptions.
“I’ve spoken with Eaton Fire survivors whose newly built homes will meet the highest levels of protection against wildfires but still fear they won’t be able to purchase insurance,” said Perez in a statement. “Being denied coverage after meeting safety standards sends the wrong message and is akin to being penalized for doing the right thing.”
The bill was introduced with support from Consumer Watchdog, the consumer advocacy group that has long endorsed the ban, and the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, a group created after the devastating Los Angeles firestorm in Perez’s district last year, according to Perez spokesperson Jerome Parra.
