Transcript Highlights:

• We've approved homeowner rate filings, sometimes in multiple filings, for every top 10 homeowners insurer
• You better be ready to file these new rate files.
• We have everything in place to accept these new rate filings.
• One would be the timeliness of the rate filing process.
• One would be the timeliness of the rate filing process.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 515, House File 702, Nursing Facility Property Rate Increase.
• Related to nursing facility payment rates, on line 558, House File 2406, one-time costs for mid-choices
• On line 562, House File 1579 is an item related to the tribal encounter rate for housing stabilization
• House Files 2935 and House File 1678.
• Line 626, House File 1994. Includes provisions for a SUD rate increase.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• When we talk about the unemployment rate, that includes more than just individuals that are filing for
• So if we had a number of those filing and a certain unemployment rate, that might indicate that there
• So, for instance, hypothetically, let's say there were 4,500 people filing and the unemployment rate
• of of those filing and a certain<00:59:25.440> unemployment<00:59:26.079> rate<00:59:26.799
• 4,500 people filing and unemployment rate<00:59:36.000> was<00:59:36.319> over<00:59:36.640

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 626, House File 1994, includes provisions for a SUD rate increase.
• rate.
• rate.
• rates.
• rates.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• files their initial claim. files their initial claim.
• rate for 20 weeks, but you're not going to get more than somebody that's comes in and files for 26 weeks
• first day of filing. first day of filing.
• . filing. filing.
• Um it gets rate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for insurance company rate filings, they are file and use.
• There is no right number when it comes to rate filings.
• Review all rates that companies must file before using.
• After TWIA filed, their rate filing was submitted to TDI on August the 15th, or just before.
• So for insurance company rate filings, they are filed and used. It's permissive, is it not?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes- residential and commercial, auto rate filings and auto form filings.
• People file their documents. They file their forms. They file their rates.
• Note that on page 15 that the rate filing history shows one rate increase of 5% implemented since Hurricane
• filings is open to the public and board meetings where rate filings are considered, are widely publicized
• In August of 2024, the board agreed to file a 10% rate increase.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes residential and commercial auto rate filings and auto form filings.
• People file their documents, they file their forms, they file their rates.
• Note that on page 15 that the rate filing history shows one rate increase of 5% implemented since Hurricane
• The process for determining our rate filings is open to the public, and board meetings where rate filings
• In August of 2024, the board agreed to file a 10% rate increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were approximately 28,000 civil cases filed in March of 2023, tripling the number of cases filed
• The number of civil cases filed in March alone exceeded the number of civil cases filed in the quarter
• The number of civil cases filed in March alone exceeded the number of civil cases filed in the quarter
• It's in clearance rates.
• Clearance rates are significantly higher in the months after the surge filing than in the months preceding

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and heard several Office of the State Courts Administrator presentations. Judge Mark Mahan discussed the impact of 2023’s HB 837 litigation reforms on court operations, explaining that the law’s changes to comparative negligence, filing deadlines, collateral source evidence, premises liability, bad faith claims, attorney’s fees, and offer-of-judgment rules triggered a major March 2023 civil filing surge. He described how filings tripled statewide, with especially large increases in auto negligence and premises liability cases, and outlined how circuits responded through active case management, added resources, and workflow changes. Members asked whether the bill’s immediate effective date contributed to the surge and whether clearance rates would normalize over time; Judge Mahan said the court system viewed its response as a success and expected rates to settle as the backlog is worked through. The committee then received a presentation on problem-solving courts from Jennifer Grandal and Judge Nina Richardson. Grandal reviewed Florida’s drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, dependency and early childhood courts, noting statewide best-practice standards, annual reporting requirements, funding sources, and data collection systems. Judge Richardson gave a local perspective on treatment courts, emphasizing that they address underlying mental health and substance use issues, rely on judicial supervision and sanctions as well as incentives, and help participants achieve recovery and avoid reoffending. She said the programs are accountable, transparent, and effective, and thanked the Legislature for continued support. Finally, Judge Rachel Nordby and Eric McClure outlined the judicial branch’s legislative agenda. Nordby summarized the Supreme Court workgroup’s recommendations to expand Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including broader coverage, fewer qualifying adverse cases, a longer lookback period, and a public records exemption for stricken defamatory or sham material. McClure then highlighted additional agenda items: modernizing the duty-judge statute, expanding senior management retirement eligibility, authorizing additional judgeships based on workload studies, removing the statutory cap on court-ordered nonbinding arbitration compensation, protecting appellate clerks’ personal information, allowing alternative authentication for certain judicial notarizations, and creating a hearsay exception for guardian ad litem reports and testimony. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after member introductions and staff introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• My expectations are that every rate filing submitted to TDI gets a careful review.
• And Texas has a file-and-use, as your testimony said, file-and-use system regarding rate changes, rate
• The rates aren't filed by the state. The policy forms aren't filed.
• Now they can also, if they file, if they make a rate filing and show that their exposure is different
• So if they file, if they make a rate filing and show that their exposure is different from what the benchmark

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rate with a 10% floor.
• rate with a 10% rate which was the prime rate with a 10% floor<00:32:34.799> in<00:32:34.960>
• 03.840> coj<00:33:04.399> rates rate non Homestead Property coj rates rate non Homestead
• Again, Goodhue County supports Senate File 308 as it corrects an interest rate discrepancy that we feel
• Again, Goodhue County supports Senate File 308 as it corrects an interest rate discrepancy that we feel

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 3860 and House File 4455.
• 3860 and House File 4455.
• 4572<00:04:48.600> Senator This bill Senate File 4572 Senator This bill Senate File 4572
• This was Senate<00:07:15.919> File<00:07:16.160> 4860, Senate File 4860, Senate File 4860
• I know bond ratings are not funds. I know bond ratings are not glamorous,<00:21:01.560> Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• File item 2 is SB 886, file item 3, SB 887, both by Senator Padilla; file item 4, SB 905, and file item
• All right, file item. File item number one is SB 804. That's what we're doing.
• File item number five, SB 913. Burner. File item number five, SB 913. Berner, Chen.
• File item number 4, SB 905. File item number 4, SB 905. Burner, aye. Burner, aye.
• File item number 6, SB 931. File item number 6, SB 931. Burner, not voting.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rates rates wages retention employment rates rates wages retention and<00:13:24.600> turnover<
• File 1418.
• File 1418.
• File 1418.
• The rate increases contained in Senate File 1826 are absolutely vital to ensuring the long-term viability

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rate quite a bit. rate quite a bit.
• effective tax rates. effective tax rates.
• on their effective tax rate. on their effective tax rate.
• rate up to be so high in 2023. rate up to be so high in 2023.
• Senate File 4787. Senate File 4787.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 2052 is the Community First Services and Supports rate modifications.
• Senate File 2052 is the Community First Services and Supports rate modifications.
• Senate File 2052 is the Community First Services and Supports rate modifications.
• Senate File 2053, Direct Support Services rate calculations.
• Senate File 2053, Direct Support Services rate calculations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This rider provides additional oversight as compared to a rate case by nature for the 3-year filing,
• This rider provides additional oversight as compared to a rate case by nature for the 3-year filing,
• rate rider. rate rider.
• if these investments have to be recovered, then you have to file a rate case for investments in a big
• /c> you have to file a rate case for you have to file a rate case for investments<00:21:28.800> in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• File item 2 is SB 886, file item 3, SB 887, both by Senator Padilla; file item 4, SB 905; and file item
• File item 2 is SB 886, file item 3, SB 887, both by Senator Padilla; file item 4, SB 905; and file item
• File item number 8, SB 1098. File item number 8, SB 1098. Schiavo, aye. Schultz, aye.
• File item number 9, SB 1125. I think we got everybody. Okay. File item number 10. Okay.
• File item number six, SB 931. 15-0. That bill is out. File item number six, SB 931.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under our current file-and-use system, which began in 2003, insurers submit rate filings to the TDI and
• than 10% from a previously filed rate.
• Under our current file and use system, which began in 2003, insurers submit rate filings to the TDI and
• than 10% from previously filed rate.
• Right now, it's a process where they get to file the rates, use those rates, and then they are scrutinized

Summary: The committee first took up several bills and voted them out favorably without amendment: SB 2857, relating to prescription drug purchasing proof for certain health benefit plan issuers and employers; SB 1307, relating to the biennial health coverage reference guide; and SB 527, relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia for certain pediatric dental services. Each of those motions passed on a 7-0 roll call. The main discussion centered on SB 1643, which would require prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance for property and casualty rate changes above 10% from a previously filed rate. The chair framed it as a response to rate volatility and rising homeowners and auto premiums, while several members questioned whether it would slow a market that is already stabilizing and could encourage insurers to file repeated increases just under the threshold. Witnesses from consumer groups supported tighter oversight and argued for a lower threshold, while insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, saying Texas’s file-and-use system and competitive market work better and that the proposal could increase costs or create uncertainty. After testimony, SB 1643 was left pending. The committee then heard SB 1642, which would replace the single Texas Department of Insurance commissioner with a three-commissioner structure and an executive director. Supporters said it could improve accountability and transparency, while opponents argued the current single-commissioner model is more efficient and avoids confusion and added cost. Witnesses also raised concerns about open meetings issues, administrative expense, and the lack of a clear model from other states. SB 1642 was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2530, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association omnibus bill. The bill would make a number of changes to TWIA’s governance and finances, including exempting TWIA from certain taxes, moving its headquarters to a coastal county, changing board composition and voting rules, and lowering the probable maximum loss standard from 1-in-100 to 1-in-50. Supporters said the bill would strengthen TWIA’s reserve funding and improve local relevance, while opponents warned it could increase assessments, reduce reinsurance protection, and create operational risks by relocating the headquarters to the coast. The bill was left pending, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• filings, which, I have to say, with the first in the... ...in our rate filings, which, I have to say
• complete rate filings in support of the request.
• In the meantime, my rate regulation branch, which reviews insurance company rate filings, is making significant
• approve those rate files.
• Aspect of the process for these rate filings, who's making money off of it?

Summary: The committee first heard AB 597, a bill to strengthen consumer protections for disaster survivors who use public adjusters. The author and the Department of Insurance said the measure would cap public adjuster fees at 15% for claims tied to declared disasters, require clearer contracts, prohibit solicitation during emergency conditions, and allow consumers to rescind contracts that were solicited during prohibited periods. Insurance industry groups supported the bill, while public adjuster representatives opposed it as written but said they were willing to work on revisions. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to Appropriations; the roll call was ultimately recorded as 16-0. The committee then held its fourth oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, with Commissioner Ricardo Lara giving an extensive update on wildfire-related market reforms and consumer protections. He said the recent Southern California wildfires had not derailed the strategy and described actions including advance claim payments, a one-year moratorium on residential non-renewals in affected areas, a new fraud strike team, smoke-damage claim guidance, additional living expense protections, and a consumer claims tracker. He reported more than $12.1 billion in claims paid, over 37,000 claims filed, and more than 7,000 survivors assisted directly. He also discussed related bills and reforms, including AB 597, SB 495, SB 547, SB 429, SB 616, AB 888, and AB 2026. Members questioned the commissioner about the Fair Plan’s growing exposure, the $1 billion assessment, rate increases, non-renewals, underinsurance, and whether the reforms would actually stabilize the market. Lara said the assessment was already approved, that policyholders would not be hit with one large bill because insurers have two years to recover costs, and that the department was pushing insurers to use catastrophe modeling and reinsurance tools in exchange for commitments to write more policies in wildfire-distressed areas. He said the department expects to see market stabilization by 2026, though he emphasized the timeline depends on insurer participation, implementation of the new regulations, and future disaster activity. Members generally expressed support for the goals of the strategy while pressing for clearer expectations for consumers and faster action on mitigation and market reform.