Ricardo Lara

Economy

Should homeowners pay for climate change?

Insurance companies want to factor climate change in calculating wildfire coverage, but consumer watchdogs worry California homeowners will end up with higher premiums. Lawmakers from fire-damaged districts say they are open to change because their constituents are already losing coverage.

By Miranda Green • June 30, 2021

CalMatters en Español

¿Deberían los propietarios pagar por el cambio climático?

Las compañías de seguros quieren tener en cuenta el cambio climático al calcular la cobertura de incendios forestales, pero los organismos de control de los consumidores temen que los propietarios de viviendas de California terminen con primas más altas. Los legisladores de los distritos dañados por el fuego dicen que están abiertos a cambios porque sus electores ya están perdiendo cobertura.

By Miranda Green and CalMatters Staff • June 30, 2021

Commentary

How should California confront wildfire threat?

California faces a year-round threat of catastrophic wildfires. Two new studies suggest ways to deal with the peril.

By Dan Walters • June 20, 2021

Capitol

Proposal would overturn policy that saves Californians money on auto insurance

The Department of Insurance proposal would eliminate the “affinity discount,” which affects millions in communities of color.

By Guest Commentary • April 2, 2021

CalMatters en Español

Opinión: Una propuesta revocaría la política que ahorra dinero a los californianos en seguros de automóviles

La propuesta del Departamento de Seguros eliminaría el "descuento por afinidad", lo que afectaría a millones en comunidades de color.

By Guest Commentary • April 2, 2021

WhatMatters

California on verge of massive COVID changes

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, March 12. More vaccines, more reopenings Things are about to change big time in California. Today, the state is expected to reach its goal of administering 2 million vaccines in underserved communities, triggering a shift in reopening criteria that will make it easier for counties to move from the most […]

By Emily Hoeven • March 12, 2021

California Wildfires

Can ‘fire hardening’ solve California’s home insurance crisis?

A program that incentivizes homeowners to mitigate wildfire risk through insurance discounts would be a win-win for insurers and consumers. Creating one is the hard part.

By James Bikales • December 7, 2020

WhatMatters

How California’s ballot became a battleground

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, November 6. Industry vs. Legislature The fate of four ballot measures — including what would be the largest change to California’s property tax structure in more than 40 years — hangs in the balance of 4.5 million uncounted votes, according to an estimate released Thursday evening by Secretary of State […]

By Emily Hoeven • November 6, 2020

California Wildfires

California protects homeowners from having fire insurance dropped — again

The state extends temporary protection from insurance cancellations to 2.1 million Californians living in wildfire-prone regions, but long-term solutions to stabilize the market remain elusive.

By James Bikales • November 5, 2020

Commentary

Legislature ignores fire insurance crisis

As wildfires raged, the California Legislature's 2020 session ended with no action on the crisis of insurance coverage in fire-prone areas.

By Dan Walters • September 7, 2020