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

Passage of SB 245 Expands Abortion Access for Californians 

By Allison Plette SB 245 (Gonzalez), known as Abortion Accessibility Act, as amended February 14, 2022, and as it relates to the Department of Insurance, adds section 10123.1961 to the Insurance Code to expand access to reproductive health care by Continue reading

California Department of Insurance Sponsors AB 2238 (Rivas) Establish Heat Wave Ranking System in California

By Julia Zeigler AB 2238 (Rivas), as amended March 23, 2022, would add Part 5.5 (commencing with section 71410) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code to establish a publicly accessible ranking system for heat waves, with clear categories Continue reading

Proposed Bill Would Permit California Department of Insurance to Order Restitution to Victims of Unlicensed Insurance Sellers

By Allison Plette SB 1040 (Rubio), as introduced February 15, 2022, would amend sections 12928.6 and 12976 of, and add section 12928.7 to, the Insurance Code to authorize the Insurance Commissioner to order restitution to consumers for illegal actions by Continue reading

New Report Released by the Department of Insurance Shows Insurance Companies Non-Renewed Fewer Homeowners In 2020

By Julia Zeigler On December 20, 2021, the  California Department of Insurance (DOI) released a new report analyzing data it collected on the number of new, renewed, and non-renewed policies issued by insurance companies writing $5 million or more in Continue reading

No Vote on Assembly Floor for California Single-Payer Health Care Bill Despite Strong Support From Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Others

By: Jackson Sullivan AB 1400 (Kalra), known as the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, as amended January 24, 2022, would have created CalCare, a state-run universal single-payer health care program enrolling all residents of California. CalCare would have Continue reading

Bail Reform Bill AB 1347 – Signed Into Law Three Years after Related Recommendations by the Department of Insurance

By Julia Zeigler AB 1347 (Jones-Sawyer), as amended on June 16, 2021, is sponsored by the California Department of Insurance and adds section 1276.1 to the Penal Code, relating to bail. The bill amends existing law that provides for the Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Holds that Even Comprehensive Commercial Property Insurance Policies Do Not Cover Business Income Losses from the Pandemic

By Jackson Sullivan On October 1, 2021, the Ninth Circuit decided Mudpie, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Case No. 20-16858 (9th Cir.).  The opinion affirmed the district court’s order dismissing Petitioner Mudpie, Inc.’s claims against its insurer, Continue reading