New Laws Strengthen Home Hardening, Insurance Access, and Wildfire Risk Transparency

On January 1, 2026, three new laws, sponsored by California Department of Insurance Commissioner Lara, went into effect that are collectively advancing wildfire resilience and homeowner protections through a suite of new insurance and safety laws.

• The California Safe Homes Act (AB 888) establishes a new grant program at the Department of Insurance to help eligible residents afford critical home-hardening measures, including fire-safe roofs and “Zone Zero” mitigation within five feet of homes—some of the most effective yet costly steps to reduce wildfire risk.
• The California Wildfire Public Model Act (SB 429) advances transparency and public safety by supporting the nation’s first publicly available wildfire loss catastrophe model, giving communities, homeowners, and policymakers better tools to understand and plan for wildfire risk. This new law builds on recommendations from the Cal Poly Humboldt-led Public Wildfire Model Strategy Group.
• The Insurance and Wildfire Safety Act (AB 1) requires regular updates to California’s Safer from Wildfires insurance discount regulations to reflect the latest science and mitigation practices—these laws expand access to financial assistance, improve risk awareness, and strengthen protections for homeowners in wildfire-prone communities statewide.