__SALUTATION__

As you may know from my previous updates, I have been actively working on your behalf to address the homeowners' insurance crisis affecting our community, and I wanted to share an exciting development.

Earlier this month, I introduced AB 2724, a bill aimed at ensuring more of our neighbors can access private homeowners' insurance coverage.

As I have shared before, the state has taken important steps to stabilize the insurance market through the Department of Insurance's Sustainable Insurance Strategy. A key part of that effort involves designating certain areas as "distressed," which helps ensure insurance companies are offering coverage in communities that need it most. Currently, a zip code qualifies as a distressed area when 15% or more of its homes are on the FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, which is both costly and limited in what it covers.

The problem is that this threshold is too high. It leaves out many communities in our district and across California that face serious wildfire risk but fall just short of the 15% mark. Cities like Orinda and Moraga, for example, have been often compared to Pacific Palisades in terms of topography and fire risks, yet are excluded under the current definition.

AB 2724 would lower that threshold to 10%, bringing more at-risk communities into the definition of "distressed areas" and ensuring more homeowners are protected under the new insurance regulations.

I will continue to fight to make sure every homeowner in our community has access to the coverage they need and deserve. I will keep you updated as this bill moves through the Legislature.

As always, thank you for your continued engagement on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Assemblymember, 16th District