RCRC supports Senate Bill 547, authored by Senator Sasha Renee Pérez (D-Alhambra). This measure extends the moratorium on insurance non-renewals for residential properties located in a ZIP Code within or adjacent to the fire perimeter for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency to commercial properties.
Specifically, SB 547 would extend the one-year moratorium on non-renewals to commercial policy holders, giving owners of those properties the same assurances after wildfire emergencies that are afforded to residential property owners. This will safeguard a variety of properties, including apartment complexes and small businesses, typically the key to maintaining healthy communities.
RCRC supported Senate Bill 824 (Lara) in 2018, which set the one-year moratorium on non-renewals for residential properties in and around ZIP codes after a major wildfire emergency. The policy has kept Californians statewide from having their coverage dropped, while those who were directly impacted concentrated on recovery and rebuilding. However, SB 824 did not afford those same protections to commercial properties, leaving owners of these properties vulnerable to non-renewals and scrambling to find coverage.
SB 547 has passed the Senate and now awaits a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC’s most recent letter of support can be found here.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.