California SB 1076: New Bill Would Require Insurers to Cover Fire-Hardened Homes

## A Landmark Bill for Fire-Hardened Homeowners

On February 19, 2026, **State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Alhambra)** introduced [SB 1076](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1076), the **Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes Act**, which would require California insurers to offer and renew coverage for any home that meets wildfire-safety standards adopted by the Insurance Commissioner.

The mandate would take effect **January 1, 2028**. Insurers that refuse to comply face a five-year ban from operating in California's auto and home insurance markets.

This is the strongest legislative signal yet that California considers fire hardening not just a recommendation, but a basis for guaranteed insurability.

## Who's Behind the Bill

**Sen. Pérez** represents California's 25th Senate District, which includes Alhambra and communities directly impacted by the January 2025 Eaton fire. She's spoken with survivors who fear that even after rebuilding to the highest fire safety standards, insurers will still refuse to cover them.

> "To help fire survivors return home, we need assurance that newly built, wildfire-resilient homes will receive insurance coverage. Being denied coverage after meeting safety standards sends the wrong message and is akin to being penalized for doing the right thing."

The bill is co-sponsored by the **Eaton Fire Survivors Network**, representing thousands of residents in the burn zone, and **Consumer Watchdog**, the Los Angeles consumer advocacy group led by executive director **Carmen Balber**.

Sen. Pérez has also introduced two related bills this session:
- **SB 877** — requiring insurers to provide more transparency in the claims process
- **SB 878** — imposing penalties on insurers who don't make claims payments on time

## What This Means for Homeowners

If SB 1076 becomes law, homeowners who invest in wildfire mitigation would no longer face the possibility of being denied coverage despite doing the right thing. The bill would establish hardening and defensible space standards set by the Insurance Commissioner, likely informed by California's existing [Safer from Wildfires](/california) program.

Key mitigation measures under consideration include:
- Class A fire-rated roofing
- 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the home (Zone 0)
- Ember-resistant vents and closed eaves
- Defensible space vegetation management

These are the same factors WyldSafe assessments evaluate and document. If you've already hardened your home or are planning to, **this bill means your investment could guarantee your ability to get insured**.

## The Insurance Industry's Response

Not everyone supports the mandate. **Rex Frazier**, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, warned the bill would "push insurers out of the homeowners insurance market." The **American Property and Casualty Insurance Association** also cautioned against "layering new mandates onto an already strained system."

However, the bill does include a safety valve — insurers can seek temporary waivers if they demonstrate an over-concentration of risk in a geographic area.

## Why This Matters Now

The context has changed dramatically since a similar bill died in 2023:
- Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have been dropped by insurers
- The [FAIR Plan](/california) — California's insurer of last resort — is under investigation for its claims practices
- Recent polls show voters overwhelmingly support requiring insurers to cover fire-hardened homes
- Over 573,000 policies are now on the FAIR Plan statewide

As Carmen Balber put it: "The situation on the ground for consumers is so much worse, and that's why this bill should get serious consideration in the Legislature."

## How WyldSafe Helps You Prepare

Whether or not SB 1076 passes, documenting your fire hardening is increasingly important for insurance. WyldSafe assessments:

- Evaluate your property against the same factors referenced in the bill
- Document your current hardening status with AI-verified evidence
- Identify specific improvements that would bring your home into compliance
- Provide insurance-ready reports that carriers and brokers can reference

If the bill passes, having pre-existing documentation of your hardening measures puts you in the strongest possible position. If it doesn't, the documentation still helps with [California's existing §2644.9 insurance discount requirements](/california/insurance-discounts).

**[Get your assessment today](/)** and start building your fire-hardening documentation.

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*Source: [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-02-19/state-bill-would-mandate-insurance-for-homeowners-who-reduce-wildfire-risks), February 19, 2026*