Commissioner Lara Announces “Sustainable Insurance Strategy” Drawing Strong Opposition from Consumer Advocacy Groups

By Alexandra Harten On September 21, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-13-23 directing the Insurance Commissioner “to take prompt regulatory action to strengthen and stabilize California’s marketplace for homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance, and to consider whether the Continue reading

Department of Insurance Co-Hosts Forum on Federal Resources Available to Californians Recovering from Natural Disasters

By Shiloh Wallack On February 6, 2023, Ricardo Lara, Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance (DOI), issued a press release regarding a public forum to discuss the federal resources available to those impacted by natural disasters and any plans Continue reading

Commissioner Lara’s New Appointments to the Department of Insurance Advance Consumer Protection Goals

By Shiloh Wallack On October 14, 2022, Department of Insurance (DOI) Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced several appointments to various boards and committees within DOI in an effort to meet DOI’s consumer protection goals. These appointments included naming three members to Continue reading

Commissioner Lara Protects Homeowner Insurance Coverage Following Wildfire Emergency Declaration

By Shiloh Wallack On September 22, 2022, Ricardo Lara, Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance (DOI), issued a press release informing Californians that DOI will “protect insurance coverage for over 236,000 homeowners following wildfire emergencies in Northern and Southern Continue reading

Auto Insurers Ordered to “Close the Gap” on Refunds Owed to California Drivers for Excess Premiums Charged during COVID-19 Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan In an October 6, 2021 press release, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the Department of Insurance (DOI) had ordered three auto insurance companies, covering approximately 20% of California drivers, to reimburse excess premiums charged during the Continue reading

After Declaration of Emergency—Mandatory Moratorium on Cancellations and Non-Renewals of Residential Property Insurance

By Julia Zeigler On September 20, 2021, Department of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a “bulletin” to announce the mandatory moratorium on cancellations and non-renewals of policies of residential property insurance. His announcement follows another year of record-breaking wildfires in Continue reading

Department of Insurance Enforces Regulations Over Bail Bonds as Discussions of Reform Move Forward

By Hannah Ohman On July 15, 2020, the Department of Insurance (DOI) issued a press release stating that an investigation by the Department of an unlicensed immigration bond company led to a $5.5 million settlement. After an investigation and subsequent Continue reading

Heating Up: How the Department of Insurance is Facing Climate Change and Insurance Costs

By Jennifer Wilczynski On May 20, 2020, the Department of Insurance (DOI) Climate Insurance Working Group issued draft recommendations regarding state policies that are directly related to major climate change issues, including extreme heat, flood and sea levels rising, and Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Takes Steps to Protect the Rights of the LGBTQ+ Community

By Jennifer Wilczynski On June 12, 2020, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a statement disapproving the Trump Administration’s reversal of non-discrimination protections under section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Without heeding the warning and dissatisfaction from 18 state insurance Continue reading

Department of Insurance Issues Cease and Desist Orders to Protect Consumers from Illegal Extended Warranty Contracts

By Jennifer Wilczynski Between April and October of 2020, the California Department of Insurance (DOI) issued multiple cease and desist orders preventing unlicensed businesses from illegally selling Vehicle Service Contracts (VSCs), or extended warranties. VSCs typically provide extra coverage for Continue reading