Ben Allen

Government Reform Require insurers to clearly explain claim denials and maintain real-time reporting of delays and outstanding claims post-disaster. Environment / Energy Some insurers’ investments and industrial underwriting have exposed them to greater climate-related financial risks than others, threatening both the industry and its Californian customers. I will restore past transparency programs that revealed insurers’ fossil fuel investments and require regular gold-standard stress testing to prevent insurers from underwriting or bankrolling risky fossil projects. Taxes / Budget Continue expanding programs like Safer from Wildfires, the California Safe Homes grant program, and vegetation management programs to help residents lower risk—and therefore lower premiums. At the same time, hardening one home at a time simply won’t solve the problem. We must all work together to safeguard our communities and create resilient neighborhoods. I will work with the Legislature, the Governor, and local governments to design neighborhood-scale programs that reduce disaster risk, increase community resiliency, and bring down insurance rates. I will also work with insurers to harness the industry’s own financial strength to invest in the new solutions and technologies that can further drive down risk. Taxes / Budget Implement reforms allowing the use of wildfire catastrophe modeling and the inclusion of reinsurance costs in rate applications, aligning California with national standards and ensuring rates accurately reflect true climate risk. The Department of Insurance must use scientifically developed data and feedback to learn as it implements the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, building on its successes while also being prepared to pivot as we find more efficient and affordable solutions. Infrastructure / Transportation Support resilient redevelopment in post-disaster areas like the Palisades and Altadena as models for safer, more fire resilient, more insurable communities of the future. Government Reform Invest in staffing and digital infrastructure to efficiently handle rate requests, consumer complaints, and disaster claims. We will update the Department’s website to make it user-friendly and accessible to everyone. Taxes / Budget Simplify insurance materials and require insurers to clearly explain available discounts under Safer from Wildfires and other hardening programs. Information is powerful, and it’s the Commissioner's job to ensure residents know what tools are available to them. Environment / Energy I support efforts to ensure fossil fuel companies bear appropriate financial responsibility for climate damages that are driving insurance costs up for everyone.