Insurance Lobby Making Stand Against Bills To Help California Fire Victims

The property-and-casualty insurance industry is making a last-minute bid to derail or significantly alter two pieces of legislation that would bring relief to fire victims who lost their homes in October, bill supporters said Tuesday. The measures will be voted on by the state Senate Insurance Committee on Wednesday afternoon. “The insurance companies are working behind the scenes to defeat or dramatically water down the bills we have proposed to help last year’s fire victims with additional assistance to get on with their lives,” said state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who has pushed for greater consumer safeguards for homeowners.