California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara speaks during a news conference in a Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Adam Beam)
A California oversight agency is calling on the state insurance commissioner to testify at its hearing on homeowner insurance issues. The Little Hoover Commission says it has made multiple requests, asking Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to participate in the hearings. This comes as major companies have dropped policies and limited business across California, leaving homeowners with fewer options and higher prices. Lara’s spokesperson dismissed the idea of testifying to the commission, saying he has appeared in several previous hearings. In a statement, Lara says his top priority is pushing forward a series of rule changes he hopes will make insurance more available to homeowners.