Clock Ticking on New California Insurance BillsCalifornia Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara sent a package of wildfire and health insurance bills to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk on September 17. Lara has made his mark, sponsoring more new laws than any insurance commissioner in California’s history. The California Wildfire Public Catastrophe Model Act (SB 429) would create the first public model for wildfire loss data. The Business Insurance Protection Act (SB 547) would give commercial properties—think small businesses, HOAs, and nonprofits—the same one-year protection from insurance non-renewal that homeowners get after a disaster is declared. This timing is crucial, as the new laws would be fresh in voters’ minds for the upcoming insurance commissioner election.