Ricardo Lara

The state's elected insurance commissioner formally unveiled a large chunk of his plan to stem the exodus of insurers from California. Adoption of the plans may result in premium hikes, but maintaining a viable market is vital to the state's economy.

A CalMatters analysis shows that California’s campaign finance watchdog has sometimes taken years to resolve cases, sometimes after politicians have won election or left office.

At a CalMatters event, California’s insurance commissioner says the changes he’s making will help homeowners and business owners. One idea: A state grant for those who spend money to protect their property from wildfires.

Recent wildfires are causing a shrinking home insurance market in California. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is trying to solve it but faces criticism.

California can't legally require insurers to write either residential or commercial property policies. But the state expects insurers to comply with the options unveiled today because they get something they want in return: catastrophe modeling. 

Insurers are seeking rate increases as California leaders try to prevent companies from fleeing over disaster risk, particularly wildfires and floods. As costs surge for utilities and other goods, a Sacramento homeowner asks if the needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few.

The California Legislature adjourned this month without resolving the issue facing homeowners and their declining ability to acquire fire insurance. A move by the insurance commissioner to try and intervene seemed to double down on a major tradeoff.

As the threat from wildfires in California only grows with climate change, insurance companies have been pulling back their offerings to homeowners. But while the Legislature was unable to agree on how to address the high cost of doing business in the state while protecting homeowners, the executive branch is stepping in. On Thursday, Insurance […]

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara unveils a plan to shore up the California insurance market for homeowners. Insurers would return to wildfire zones, but would have an easier path to rate increases.

Several statewide officials’ policies are coming under scrutiny as California’s Nov. 8 general election inches closer, heightening the possible political implications. First up: Attorney General Rob Bonta was dealt a major blow Monday, when the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-3 that California must exclude private immigration detention centers from its 2019 law […]