"California's Wildfires: Can Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Attract Insurers with a New Plan?"

California's Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara, is facing the challenge of luring insurers back to the state after major companies like Allstate, Star Farm, and Farmers Insurance limited or stopped coverage due to the growing risk of wildfires. Lara's plan involves requiring insurers to write policies in fire-prone areas in exchange for faster decisions on rate requests. However, insurers may demand rate increases of up to 40% to accommodate the higher risk. The situation reflects a business model unprepared for environmental disasters, leaving homeowners in a difficult position.