Bill Aims to Help Communities Move out of FAIR Plan |
It’s one of the dreaded experiences for any property owner in the past few years – the non‑renewal letter from the insurance company‚ followed by the news from a broker that there is no insurance available at all besides the FAIR Plan.
The FAIR Plan is California’s insurer of last resort‚ and its coverage has both high premiums and bare‑bones coverage. Having it as the only insurance option is one of the many ways that life in rural California has become more expensive and difficult.
This is also‚ however‚ a signal about where we need to do the most to invest in wildfire safety‚ and that is why I am proud of the progress this week of a bill I have co‑authored with Sen. Marie Alvarado‑Gil.
Senate Bill 1162 is simple. It directs Cal Fire to focus its work on reducing fuels in areas in the wildland‑urban interface – those neighborhoods where town blends into forest that are often at highest fire risk – and where the number of FAIR Plan policies has increased most sharply since 2019.
While FAIR Plan coverage has increased everywhere in California‚ in some communities the number of policies is up 10‑fold over that time. In many of these places‚ neighbors have joined together to reduce fuels‚ establish FireWise Communities and otherwise protect themselves. They need to be made a priority for the state’s spending on thinning brush and overgrown forests.
This week SB 1162 passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee unanimously. I’m grateful for their support and the work of Sen. Alvarado‑Gil‚ as well as fellow coauthor Assemblyman James Gallagher‚ in this effort to better protect the communities at most severe risk.
In the long run‚ we want to get these properties out of the FAIR Plan and back into the standard insurance market. SB 1162 will move us toward that goal.
Preparing for Stroke Awareness Month
Thursday morning I introduced the language for Senate Concurrent Resolution 156‚ which will recognize the month of May as Stroke Awareness Month.
My own health journey has made this issue very real and personal. I encourage everyone to know the risk factors for stroke and be mindful of your health‚ and to know the signs of a stroke so you can respond quickly if it happens to you or a loved one. It really can save a life.
I am grateful for the work of medical providers who tirelessly promote education about prevention and response‚ and I will be sharing much more in May.
Memorial Highways Honor Community Leaders
If you’ve driven in California‚ you’ve almost certainly seen a sign naming a memorial highway – a way the Legislature recognizes individuals with records of outstanding public service.
This year‚ I am working to honor several constituents and communities with highway designations‚ and I am happy to announce that on Tuesday the Transportation Committee passed three Senate Concurrent Resolutions that I have coauthored with Assemblyman James Gallagher – all with bipartisan support.
SCR 117 designates the Butte City Bridge on State Route 162 in Glenn County (shown in this Caltrans photo) as the John Hughes Memorial Bridge. John Hughes spent a long career in bridge construction‚ starting on small local projects and eventually working on some of the largest in Northern California‚ and was known for his skill‚ innovation and mentorship of the next generation. Fittingly‚ Tuesday would have been John Hughes’ birthday.
SCR 119 designates a portion of State Route 20 in Sutter County as the Gordon Lee Bordsen Memorial Highway. Gordon Bordsen was a longtime Caltrans right‑of‑way agent whose work shaped transportation corridors across Sutter‚ Colusa‚ Nevada and Yuba Counties.
SCR 121 recognizes a segment of State Route 162 in Willows as a Purple Heart Community‚ honoring the sacrifice of the men and women of Glenn County who were wounded or killed while serving our nation. This resolution reinforces the community’s commitment to honoring our veterans.
Assemblyman Gallagher and I look forward to guiding these resolutions through the legislative process.
Fellowships Support North State Artists
Are you a painter‚ musician‚ dancer‚ or writer living in the 1st Senate District?
A rare opportunity has opened for financial support for the people who make life more beautiful.
The Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship‚ funded by the California Arts Council‚ has grant funding totalling $240‚000 for artists living in rural Northern California‚ and the application window is open now through May 6.
Fellowships‚ at various levels‚ are available for emerging‚ established and legacy artists‚ to both nurture young talents and support the work of the more experienced.
The grants are run through the Nevada County Arts & Culture‚ which is holding online sessions through the next month to help applicants.
For more information‚ visit the Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship web site.
Stay Connected on Social Media
In addition to this weekly newsletter‚ my team and I share important updates‚ district highlights‚ and legislative news on social media‚ especially Facebook and Instagram. These platforms are a great way to stay informed and engaged with the work I’m doing on your behalf in the Senate.
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Whether online or in person‚ my team and I are committed to keeping you informed and connected. If you need assistance‚ please don’t hesitate to reach out.