Sen. Dodd Responds to Ag/Commercial Wildfire Insurance Plan

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s plan to ensure commercial and agricultural insurance coverage amid continuing wildfires.

“Commissioner Lara’s multipronged approach is necessary to ensure the availability and affordability of insurance for small businesses and farmers that have been hard hit by wildfires,” said Sen. Dodd. “It will improve coverage in significant ways and affords policyholders the kind of protection they deserve.  The commissioner has worked hard while in office to improve the residential property insurance market and this latest step is critical for assisting the commercial sector.”

Commissioner Lara proposed his comprehensive solution for commercial insurance coverage after several destructive wildfire seasons. Working with the California Farm Bureau Federation, he is addressing growing needs for a competitive insurance market for farm owners, wineries and other outdoor businesses. His solution involves strengthening the FAIR Plan, California’s insurance safety net, while aggressively reducing wildfire risk through a combination of insurance incentives and mitigation.

The commissioner also announced he is moving forward under his existing authority to pursue new rules, announced earlier this year, to require that insurance companies take into account fire-preparation actions by homes and businesses when they determine the risk of wildfires. This action will increase insurance availability and incentives for residents and businesses to better protect themselves.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.