Safer from Wildfires Program Improvements Pass through Senate Insurance Committee

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) presented Assembly Bill (AB) 2416 before the Senate Insurance Committee, and it passed with a 6-0 vote. AB 2416 requires the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to review the Safer from Wildfires regulations every five years, and consider if additional building hardening measures and community level wildfire mitigation programs should be included in the program.

“I am proud to champion legislation that addresses an issue near and dear to communities throughout the state where wildfire risks are high, and insurance is increasingly unaffordable,” said Assemblymember Damon Connolly. “It is critical that we give consumers the chance to be heard, and provide more Californians with the opportunity to benefit from the Safer from Wildfires program.”

The current state of the insurance market is leaving thousands of families without coverage and causing rates to rise even in areas that are low risk for wildfires and natural disasters. The Safer from Wildfires program is the only avenue open to consumers to receive direct insurance discounts for hardening their homes and neighborhoods. Currently, there is no requirement for the CDI to open up the regulations for evaluation. As new and safer building materials come to market and wildfire prevention methods evolve, it is important that we periodically revisit the regulations and ensure that as much relief as possible is being offered to residents who are doing the right thing. AB 2416 helps consumers save money on their insurance bills while simultaneously reducing the risk of disaster for vulnerable communities.

AB 2416 has passed successfully out of the Senate Insurance Committee, and the bill will now make its way to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Assemblymember Connolly represents the entirety of Marin County and Southern Sonoma County