Around the PIA Western Alliance States- Week of April 20, 2026

California — Lara Overhauls Intervenor Process: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the California Department of Insurance has submitted its Intervenor and Administrative Hearing Bureau Fairness and Accountability rulemaking package to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final review — marking the most significant modernization of the intervenor system since Proposition 103 was enacted in 1988.

The reforms strengthen transparency, improve efficiency, and protect consumer dollars in the insurance rate review process. Once approved by OAL, the regulations will establish clear standards for intervenor compensation, expand public reporting, and reinforce the Department’s authority to ensure that every dollar in the rate review process serves the public interest.

“These reforms strengthen Proposition 103 by bringing long‑overdue transparency and accountability to every part of the rate review process,” said Commissioner Lara. “Californians deserve to know that every dollar in this system is protected, and I will not allow any organization — insurer or intervenor — to operate without clear guardrails.”

Key provisions of the regulations include:

Clarifying “substantial contribution” and reasonableness standards for an intervenor’s request for compensation

Defining the role of the Department’s Administrative Hearing Bureau (AHB) in settlement agreements and requests for compensation

Requiring regular status updates from AHB Administrative Law Judges every 30 days to all parties

Expanding public reporting by posting intervenor activity and statistics on the Department’s website

Improving public access to proceedings through required posting of AHB calendars, dockets, and documents

The reforms follow months of public engagement, including a 45‑day comment period, written and oral testimony, and a subsequent 15‑day comment period on targeted revisions. Input from consumer advocates, insurers, legal experts, and members of the public informed the final proposal.

Several organizations representing homeowners, farmers, builders, and small businesses expressed strong support, calling the reforms “a crucial step toward restoring balance, reducing unjustified delays, improving transparency, and protecting access to coverage.”

Commissioner Lara also addressed mischaracterizations raised by opponents during the rulemaking process.

“Some groups have misrepresented these reforms as limiting consumer voices. That is simply false,” Lara said. “The right to intervene remains untouched. What changes is the expectation that compensation must be earned, documented, and aligned with the issues in the proceeding.”

The Department’s record underscores the importance of rigorous oversight. From 2019 to 2025, the Department’s expert review saved Californians $6.6 billion in premiums and secured $3.3 billion in refunds for drivers during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

“Accountability is not optional,” Lara added. “Transparency is not an attack. It is the foundation of public trust and these reforms ensure that every part of the system is accountable to the Californians it serves.”

The reforms are a central component of Commissioner Lara’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the most comprehensive overhaul of California’s insurance regulations in more than 35 years, aimed at stabilizing the market, expanding coverage options, and building a modern, resilient insurance system.

OAL has up to 30 working days to complete its review. Once approved, the regulations will be filed with the Secretary of State and take effect shortly thereafter.

California — Work Comp Pure Premium Increase of 10.4%: The rate setting committee of the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has voted to authorize the WCIRB to submit a September 1, 2026, pure premium rate filing to the California Insurance Commissioner.

The proposed rate will be about 10.4% over the approved rate of September 1, 2025.

Source link: Insurance Journal — https://bit.ly/4tZ17RM

California — Advisory Board Appointments: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced several reappointments to the California Department of Insurance’s statewide governing boards to help drive forward the Department’s mission to protect California consumers and businesses.

“I am pleased to announce the continued service of experienced leaders across several key advisory bodies that support my and the Department’s work,” said Commissioner Lara. “I have every confidence that these returning board members will serve in the best interest of all Californians. The advice and diverse perspectives of these appointees are critical to continuing my Department’s mission to protect consumers across our state and ensure a robust insurance marketplace in California.”

These reappointments include:

Robert Sturm to the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) Advisory Panel

Debra Gore to the California Organized Investment Network (COIN)

Jesse Dogillo to the Curriculum Board

Cecil Plummer and Linda Akutagawa to the Insurance Diversity Task Force (IDTF)

Jeremy Smith to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) Governing Committee

The CEA provides earthquake insurance for California homeowners, condominium owners, mobile homeowners, and renters. The CEA Advisory Panel advises the Governing Board of the CEA on issues including basic insurance coverage issues, CEA’s insurance rates, long-term sustainability and survivability of the CEA, and availability and affordability of earthquake coverage.

The California Organized Investment Network (COIN) was established in 1996 within the Department of Insurance to help guide insurers on making financially sound investments that yield environmental benefits throughout California and social benefits within the State’s underserved communities. Commissioner Lara has prioritized COIN investments which drive affordable housing, support small businesses, combat climate change, and encourage investors to utilize diverse investment managers more. The COIN Advisory Board provides guidance to the Commissioner and the COIN program to meet its mission and chief priorities.

The Curriculum Board oversees the development of pre-licensing and continuing education curriculum for agents and brokers to uphold professional standards that protect consumers. This includes a list of preapproved courses of study as well as courses of study for professional designations. This Board also develops standards for providers and instructors who offer courses and other training to licensed agents and brokers.

The Insurance Diversity Task Force (IDTF) advises the Department’s nationally-recognized Insurance Diversity Program (as part of the Office of Insurance Diversity and Innovation), which encourages insurers to expand access and economic inclusion with diverse business owners, such as a woman-owned, veteran-/disabled veteran-owned, historically disadvantaged community-owned, people with disabilities-owned, or LGBTQ+-owned businesses, as well as advance diversity of insurance company corporate boards. The Task Force makes recommendations to the Insurance Commissioner regarding innovative ways to increase diversity within the insurance industry.

The WCIRB Governing Committee sets policy, oversees WCIRB management, and reviews all issues involving pure premium rates, classifications, rating plans, rating systems, manual rules and policy, and endorsement forms. The WCIRB is a private organization licensed by the Department for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and compiling rating data, with funding coming from assessments of its insurance company members. All workers’ compensation insurance companies in California are required by law to be members of the WCIRB.

Upcoming board meetings:

· CEA Advisory Panel meeting is on June 4, 2026

· COIN Advisory Board meeting is on August 6, 2026

· Curriculum Board meeting is on July 16, 2026

· Insurance Diversity Task Force meeting is on June 10, 2026

· WCIRB Governing Committee meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2026

More details are available at: https://bit.ly/4vKtRzt All positions are uncompensated.

Appointed members include:

CEA Advisory Panel:

Robert Sturm is Senior Vice President, Chief Litigation Officer for CSAA Insurance Group. Sturm is a longstanding licensed attorney and licensed insurance agent, with more than 18 years of direct insurance industry experience out of 33 total years of legal experience. He is responsible for all litigation practice groups, including Corporate, Employment, Insurance Defense/Internal Staff Counsel, Extra-Contractual/Coverage and Subrogation. Prior to CSAA, Sturm was Assistant General Counsel, Employment Law at JELD-WEN Windows & Doors. He is also an elected member of the Lafayette School District Governing Board. Sturm has been reappointed to the CEA Advisory Panel in the insurance company representative seat with a term ending on March 23, 2030.

COIN Advisory Board:

Debra Gore is on the Executive Team of Self Help Federal Credit Union where she provides strategic investments, partnerships, and community capital absorption that support and amplify underserved market sectors focused mostly in the state of California. Prior to Self Help, Gore also served as the President & CEO of The Greenlining Institute. Gore has over 25+ years of leadership in nonprofit and private research universities and over 10 years of private sector business development expertise having worked in investment banking, international infrastructure development and engineering. She serves on multiple nonprofit and foundation boards that strive to serve communities whose work includes criminal justice, youth life and educational opportunities, youth and young adults in sports, and economic opportunity. Gore has been reappointed to the COIN Advisory Board as a representative with experience seeking investments for low-to-moderate-income or rural communities with a term ending on March 23, 2028.

Curriculum Board:

Jesse Dogillo is Principal and Founder of the Bay Area Financial & Insurance Services, which provides insurance and financial services to individuals and small business owners in Silicon Valley. Dogillo is contracted through the Office of Financial Readiness (OSW) to provide financial counseling and education services to current U.S. military service members. He also taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz as a Risk Management/Insurance Instructor. Dogillo serves as Trustee of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and was President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, is a past President of the Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council, and past President of the Asian American Financial & Insurance Professional Association (Northern California Chapter). Dogillo has been reappointed to the Curriculum Board in the life agent representative seat with a term ending on March 3, 2029.

Insurance Diversity Task Force:

Cecil Plummer is Founder of Cecil Plummer Consulting, with more than two decades of executive leadership experience spanning strategic sourcing, supplier diversity, change management, and strategic planning. He previously served as CEO of Fastr.ai (an HR Tech startup) and as President and CEO of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC), which works to create jobs and economic impact for low-to-moderate income communities by supporting and promoting entrepreneurs and connecting them with contract opportunities with Fortune 1000 companies and large public entities. Plummer has been reappointed to the Task Force as an advocate/expert of supplier diversity with a term ending on March 23, 2028.

Linda Akutagawa is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) an organization through which she is committed to developing Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) leaders. She is the past Chair of the Alliance for Board Diversity, a national organization focused on advancing gender and ethnic/racial diversity on corporate boards, of which LEAP is a partner organization. In addition, she is a Board Member of the AAPI Equity Alliance (a co-founding organization of #StopAAPIHate), an Executive Committee member of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a coalition of national Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander serving organizations, a member of the Asian/Asian American Institute Advisory Board at California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA) and a Board member of Japanese American Community Services (JACS). Akutagawa has been reappointed to the Task Force as an advocate/expert of governing board diversity with a term ending on March 23, 2028.

WCIRB Governing Committee:

Jeremy Smith is the Chief of Staff at the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (Council). Prior to his current role, he served as the Deputy Legislative Director for the Council for 10 years. Smith previously worked as a Legislative Advocate at the California Labor Federation and began his career in organized labor as the FEmployment Committee in the Illinois State Senate. Smith has been reappointed to the WCIRB Governing Committee in the organized labor representative seat with a term ending on March 23, 2028.

Oregon — New DFR Premium Assistance Program to assist affordable housing and shelter providers: The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is accepting applications for help with the rising costs of insurance premiums for affordable housing providers. The legislature passed Senate Bill 829 in the 2025 legislative session to help mitigate and stabilize insurance costs for affordable housing providers and emergency shelter operators.

The program, which was one of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s priorities in the 2025 session, is being stood up in response to mounting concerns that insurance premiums, both property and liability coverages, are rising to levels that threaten the sustainability and availability of affordable housing and shelter bed access across the state. This program is designed to offset some of those rising insurance costs for shelter sites and those who provide affordable housing.

“We cannot afford to lose a single affordable housing unit due to unpredictable costs,” Gov. Kotek said. “Affordable housing providers and shelter operators take on unique risks. These funds will help to protect the progress we’re making on the ground to house and shelter Oregonians.”

The legislature earmarked $2,474,644 for grants to be issued through an application process. The program makes the following entities eligible:

· Shelter provider

· Affordable housing provider

· Project Turnkey site

· Navigation center

· Local government entity

Entities must currently operate in Oregon and provide affordable housing or shelter services to individuals or families earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).

“This is a positive step to address a large need we see in the insurance market as it relates to affordable housing,” said Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen. “We look forward to making an impact and stand ready to assist providers and shelters that are struggling to find affordable insurance.”

Those interested can find application materials on DFR’s website.

Anyone with questions or concerns should email: DFR.housingpremiumassistance@DCBS.oregon.gov.

Washington — IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designations now available in Washington: The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) has expanded its Wildfire Prepared Home designation program to include Washington and nine other states, the organization announced on Tuesday.

The Wildfire Prepared program is a set of research-based mitigation actions that help homeowners and builders in high-risk areas better protect their homes and neighborhoods from wildfire.

“This is an important step in building physical and financial resiliency to the increasing threat of wildfire,” Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer said. “We’re happy to welcome IBHS to the state.”

Kuderer sponsored a bill in the 2026 legislative session to create a pilot version of the Strengthen Washington Homes program. Senate Bill 6079 would have created a voluntary grant program to help consumers with some of the costs of retrofitting their homes using the Wildfire Prepared Home standards. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee.

Kuderer and her staff will be holding town halls and other outreach events in wildfire-threatened areas of the state this summer as part of her Community Connect initiative to answer insurance questions and discuss wildfire mitigation work and her efforts to create a grant program.

Home-hardening, using standards like those from IBHS, drives insurer confidence and market stability by directly reducing the likelihood of a home igniting.

“These upgrades help protect not only homes and communities, but access to insurance coverage,” Kuderer said. “With climate change increasing and intensifying wildfire threats, these standards are a smart, responsible way to mitigate that risk.”

The Wildfire Prepared program offers two levels for individual properties: Wildfire Prepared Home, which outlines essential actions to reduce risk from wind-driven embers, and Wildfire Prepared Home Plus, an enhanced level of protection against radiant heat and direct flame contact. Homeowners can earn the designation by completing a set of science-based steps verified by a third party.

The program also includes Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood, which recognizes builders and communities working together to reduce home-to-home wildfire spread.

“In a state like Washington, where forests, communities and homes are deeply interconnected, wildfire risk is shared,” said Roy Wright, president and CEO of IBHS. “Science based mitigation gives homeowners and communities a way to take action before disaster strikes. Expanding Wildfire Prepared in Washington helps align individual choices with broader resilience — reducing the chance that one vulnerable structure puts an entire neighborhood at risk.”

Established in 2022, Wildfire Prepared is built on the latest IBHS research examining how homes ignite during wildfire events and what mitigation measures most effectively interrupt structure-to-structure spread. The program, previously available in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon, is now also available in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as Washington.

“Many Washington communities face recurring wildfire risk, not one off events,” said Steve Hawks, senior director of wildfire at IBHS. “Wildfire Prepared recognizes that resilience comes from a combination of construction, vegetation management and ongoing upkeep — steps that, when applied together, improve survivability and insurability."

Homeowners can learn more and apply for the parcel-level Wildfire Prepared Home designation on IBHS’ website. Builders, developers, and community leaders can visit the site for program resources and to submit Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood inquiries.

Washington — OIC adopts final rule on plan year 2027 health carrier rate development components (premium alignment): We are adopting a final rule (CR-103) for our rulemaking on health carrier rate development components for plan years beginning in 2027. The policy contained in this final rule is sometimes called “premium alignment” or “standardized silver loading.”

In 2025, OIC adopted emergency rules on this issue (R 2025-01, R 2025-07, R 2025-17). Those emergency rules gave health carriers guidance for plan year 2026 rate development components, including the development of a uniform cost-sharing reduction factor.

This final rule addresses health carrier rate development components for plan years beginning in 2027.

Please send questions regarding the final rule’s application to plan year 2027 rate filings to Rfhealthplan@oic.wa.gov.

For more information, including the final rule (CR-103) text and the Concise Explanatory Statement, please visit the rule webpage.