Farm Bureau Wildfire Insurance Legislation Signed by the Governor

The Napa County Farm Bureau is proud to announce that Farm Bureau sponsored wildfire insurance legislation, Senate Bill 11, successfully passed out of the State Assembly and State Senate and was tonight signed by Governor Newsom. This legislative victory will begin to address the lack of wildfire insurance coverage in Napa Valley and throughout California and will provide a necessary property insurance backstop for Napa County’s agricultural infrastructure.

The Farm Bureau has made the lack of wildfire insurance coverage for its members a top priority. Over the course of the last several years, members have seen their wildfire insurance policies non-renewed leaving them unable to find wildfire insurance coverage. For those members that were able to maintain coverage, many saw their rates triple or quadruple for a fraction of the coverage they used to receive. Now, agricultural properties will be able to access basic property insurance under the California FAIR plan, the state’s insurer of last resort.

 Building from the Farm Bureau hosted event with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Calistoga on May 25 where the Farm Bureau discussed the lack of wildfire insurance coverage in Napa Valley, the Farm Bureau has worked diligently on this legislation to ensure that agricultural infrastructure is able to access basic property insurance by the California FAIR plan.

 This Farm Bureau sponsored legislation received overwhelming bi-partisan support in the Assembly and the Senate, as well as support from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who has been working closely with the Farm Bureau on the issue of wildfire insurance coverage for agriculture in Napa Valley and throughout California.

 "This issue has been a #1 priority for the Farm Bureau and SB 11’s victory is a testament to the hard work that our team put into this issue and we’re seeing the benefits of all of that hard work right now," said Johnnie White, President of the Napa County Farm Bureau.

 “This legislative victory is the culmination of months of hard work led by the Farm Bureau,” said Ryan Klobas, Chief Executive Officer of the Napa County Farm Bureau. “This is a first step that will now allow agricultural properties in Napa Valley and throughout California to access basic property insurance for wildfire coverage. ”

Farming and ranching operations previously did not have access to basic property insurance provided by the California FAIR Plan, leaving commercial agricultural infrastructure, wineries, farming equipment and other components uninsured. Senate Bill 11 will now authorize these operations to access the California FAIR Plan for basic property coverage and provide a necessary property insurance backstop for Napa County’s agricultural infrastructure.