Survivors and Advocates Respond to Lara’s Announcement of State Farm Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2025
Contact: contact@insurancefairnessproject.com
Survivors and Advocates Respond to Lara’s Announcement of State Farm Investigation
Commissioner’s Announcement Comes After Months of Sustained Demands and Political Pressure
Today, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced an investigation into State Farm’s handling of L.A. fire survivor claims.
Lara’s decision comes after months of sustained demands from fire survivors and political pressure, including press conferences, news stories, and even an ad campaign. Lara approved State Farm’s rate hike last month, over the objections of consumer advocates and despite allegations that the company has slow-walked claims for fire survivors.
Last month, the Extreme Weather Survivors network launched ads (gif and video) urging Commissioner Lara to “Stand with families. Not the insurance companies.” The ads featured the faces and voices of Eaton Fire Survivors who feel they’ve been mistreated by State Farm, including delaying or denying claims, switching adjusters, and more.
“Fire survivors and other State Farm policyholders have been calling for an investigation for months, and until now, all they got was more rate hikes,” said Sophia Wilson, spokesperson for the Insurance Fairness Project. “We’re glad that Commissioner Lara has finally started to listen to his constituents. The home insurance crisis cannot be solved on the backs of everyday Californians, and insurers who abuse consumers with delays and denials must be held accountable. It’s time for lawmakers to take this crisis seriously.”
“Survivors are heroes — they shouldn’t have to fight to get what they’re owed. But when we get loud, it works,” said Sierra Kos, co-founder and co-executive director at Extreme Weather Survivors. “We’re glad the commissioner is finally taking this seriously. Because, the truth is, you can’t rate hike your way out of this — oil and insurance giants can’t keep fueling disasters and then dodging the fallout. This investigation is a win for every community that spoke out and demanded accountability. This moment proves that when we show up for each other, we make change.”
“An investigation is finally underway — a testament to the power of survivor voices and the change we can create when we unite,” said Joy Chen, founder of Eaton Fire Survivors Network. “Families who paid premiums to State Farm for decades are being devastated. First by the fires, and now by State Farm’s delays, denials, and underpayments. We call on Commissioner Lara to publicly report whether State Farm is complying with the law — before considering yet another rate hike this October.”
###
The Insurance Fairness Project is an information hub dedicated to offering insights into the home insurance crisis, exploring its drivers and highlighting solutions alongside issue experts and community advocates.
