Media Coverage
Source: Digital Insurance
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Thomas
09.24.25
California lawmakers recently passed SB 429, the California Wildfire Public Catastrophe Model Act, which authorizes the state to develop a public wildfire catastrophe model. However, its creation and eventual impact are not guaranteed. Based in part on recommendations from Cal Poly Humboldt, the bill aims to increase transparency and complements the state’s existing model review process under Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s strategy.
According to Litigation counsel Christopher Butler, implementing such a model would rely on the participation of California’s universities.
“We have an incredible public university system in California,” he said. “But certainly, it’s disfavored by the current federal government, which is going after it for a lot of funding. So, is there going to be the funding there to pull this off, given all the attacks on research? It’s state funded, so probably yes.”
He added that a public wildfire catastrophe model could serve as a check on both insurers’ wildfire risk models and the California Department of Insurance’s (CDI) review process.
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