Kyle Belleville — Kyle Belleville of the California FAIR Plan is introduced as Vice President of Product and Underwriting and then begins his testimony, thanking the chair and committee and stating that he will present a prepared overview of the clearinghouse.
Josephine Figueroa — Introduced as Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director from the Department of Insurance.
Josephine Figueroa — Josephine Figueroa, Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director for the Department of Insurance, introduced herself and stated that she was speaking on behalf of the department. She indicated she would address the clearinghouse program and related oversight.
Armand Feliciano — Armand Feliciano introduces himself as representing the FAIR Plan and thanks the committee for inviting the FAIR Plan to present on the clearinghouse; a brief follow-up acknowledgment is directed to him immediately afterward.
Kyle Bellville — Named as joining the panel; spelling appears uncertain and may refer to Kyle Belleville.
Melissa Werner — Identified as an attorney with the Rate Enforcement Bureau who is present to answer technical questions.
SB505 — Cited as requiring expansion of the clearinghouse to commercial policies.
SB505 — Peter Ansel says the California Farm Bureau sponsored SB 505 a couple years ago regarding agricultural policies in the FAIR Plan.
Marc Berman — Marc Berman is introduced and then speaks critically about the clearinghouse program, saying it is not working and questioning what the program actually does. The exchange continues directly into a response addressed to him, keeping the discussion focused on the clearinghouse’s purpose and effectiveness.
Marc Berman — Marc Berman is referenced twice in quick succession as having pointed out and alluded to the issue of extended replacement coverage, with both mentions reinforcing the same discussion.
Marc Berman — Marc Berman is referenced in a repeated remark about the top 12 carriers, noting that three of them are independent agency companies.
SB525 — SB 525 is referenced as a recent change expanding FAIR Plan coverage to include mobile homes, with the speaker reiterating that the bill requires mobile-home coverage.
Liz Ortega — Raised concerns about growth in FAIR Plan enrollment on the Central Coast.
John Norwood — John Norwood was introduced as a witness for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California and then began his testimony. He opened with remarks to the chair and members and explained the role of independent agents in the insurance market, contrasting them with captive agents and direct writers, and noting that independent agents can represent multiple insurers and shop the broader market for coverage.
Mark Sektnan — Introduced as Vice President of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Sarah Taylor — Introduced as Vice President of the Personal Insurance Federation of California.
Sarah Taylor — Introduced herself as speaking on behalf of the Personal Insurance Federation of California and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.
Sarah Taylor — Responded on behalf of PIF and referenced the Commissioner's Sustainable Insurance Strategy and distressed-area ZIP codes.
Cliston Brown — Introduced as Vice President of the Surplus Lines Association of California.
Cliston Brown — Introduced himself as vice president for public affairs with the Surplus Line Association of California.
Mark Secknan — Introduced himself as vice president of state government relations for APCIA and began testimony.
Mr. Sexton — Referenced as a colleague who already made important comments.
Mr. Sexton — Mr. Sexton is referenced in a continued discussion about misaligned incentives, with the follow-up specifically clarifying that the issue concerns agents.
Mr. Taylor — Referenced as having talked about a clear process.
Mr. Taylor — Asked whether participation in the clearinghouse is required in the SIS filing.
Mr. Norwood — The discussion centers on Mr. Norwood’s testimony about the FAIR Plan and related market practices. He is referenced as noting that consumers are price shopping the FAIR Plan, and his testimony is contrasted with the Department of Insurance’s view on agent roles and compensation structure. The committee then asks Mr. Norwood for further comment on broker-of-record issues, including whether reforms should allow consumers to bypass the broker of record. The conversation continues into renewal practices, with Mr. Norwood explaining that members look for available markets at renewal, often working through internal contacts and surplus lines brokers to find coverage, while facing company-specific restrictions.
Ms. Figueroa — Referenced as having discussed limited appointments with the department.
Serran — Serran is referenced as having said that premium data would be needed.
independent brokers — Said to have little or no awareness of the program, indicating a lack of education.
Mr. Sankan — Asked whether participation in the clearinghouse is required in the SIS filing.
Robert Feldman — Robert Feldman, CEO of WOW Insurance, explains that his company has brought in a London program and is working through the clearinghouse to help depopulate the FAIR Plan. He says he recently joined the clearinghouse, is working with brokers, and already has multiple carriers interested in participating. He emphasizes that the clearinghouse is key to changing the market, along with options for consumers and fire hardening. He also notes that Cal Fair Plan growth appears to be running at 2 to 4 percent per month based on their numbers, says the program is moving in the right direction, and offers to continue providing constant analytics and information to support the clearinghouse.
Peter Ansel — Peter Ansel of the California Farm Bureau urges the committee to keep the commercial side of the clearinghouse issue in view, noting that farm and ranch members often have commercial and residential coverage side by side and need access to insurance options. He explains that the core problem is access to affordable coverage in the admitted market, and that the clearinghouse should be viewed as a tool to identify lower-risk policies and move them back into the admitted market through competition, rather than as a cure-all. He closes by emphasizing that the commercial side should not be forgotten, since many member policies are currently on the FAIR Plan.