Strengthening California’s Insurance Market: Expanding Access & Stability

California’s homeowners insurance market is at a pivotal moment. In the wake of devastating wildfires that exacerbated financial strain on both private insurers and the FAIR Plan, stakeholders across the industry are working toward solutions to expand access and build a more stable, resilient insurance market.

Join the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) in Sacramento for a solutions-driven panel, “CCRE Presents – Strengthening California’s Insurance Market: Expanding Access & Stability,” on Tuesday, April 29, from 3 – 4:30 p.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, Room B1/B2 (second floor). This timely discussion will bring together top policymakers, insurance industry leaders, and consumer advocates to examine regulatory and policy efforts aimed at stabilizing the insurance market. The panel will also explore opportunities to expand insurance access and create a more sustainable market for homeowners in California.

Can't join CCRE in Sacramento? Tune into the live conversation via Zoom.

MODERATOR:

Megan Fan Munce

Reporter

San Francisco Chronicle

Munce is a reporter on the climate team covering California’s home insurance crisis. She writes about the California FAIR Plan; State Farm non-renewals; pullbacks by other insurers such as Allstate and Farmers; policy initiatives from the California Department of Insurance; and how homeowners in the Bay Area and elsewhere are navigating the challenges. Munce first joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle. She grew up in San Jose before attending Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. 

PANELISTS:

John Norwood

Chief Lobbyist

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California

Norwood is one of California’s top legislative advocates and is considered the leader in the state’s insurance, financial services, and small business sector. His career has spanned more than 35 years in various capacities representing clients before the California Legislature and regulatory agencies. Norwood has earned a reputation as an expert in government relations, with access on both sides of the political aisle. In 2004, the Los Angeles Times stated: “for three decades Norwood has been in the middle of the scrum in most major insurance struggles in California.” His successes include hard-fought campaigns amending California’s insurance rate regulatory statutes, reforming California’s insurance agent and broker licensing laws, and rebuffing challenges to title insurance and home warranty statutes. Norwood earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and is an active member of the California State Bar.

Emily Rogan

Senior Program Officer

United Policyholders

Rogan joined United Policyholders (UP) in January 2008. Her role in UP’s Roadmap to Preparedness Program involves educating homeowners and renters throughout the Bay Area, where she organizes workshops and webinars to provide long-term recovery help to disaster survivors and case managers across the county. She builds and maintains relationships with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) members, nonprofits, government, and the faith-based community. She has previously served on the Curriculum Board of the California Department of Insurance, the Executive Committee for San Francisco VOAD, the Education Committee for the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and on the CaliforniaVolunteers – Office of the Governor EF – 17 Working Group.

David Russell

Director

California State University, Northridge

Center for Risk Management and Insurance

Dr. Russell is Professor of Insurance and Finance at California State University, Northridge, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Risk and Insurance. David holds an A.B. in Economics from Amherst College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Insurance and Risk Management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  He has published in several academic outlets, including the Journal of Insurance Regulation, the Risk Management and Insurance Review and the Journal of Insurance Issues.  He also has served on the boards of multiple property/casualty insurance companies and organizations.

Sanjay Wagle

Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

With C.A.R. since 2003, Wagle supervises the policy and political work of the department. C.A.R.’s governmental affairs team includes advocates who work to advance the policy and political goals of the association. Prior to his Governmental Affairs work, he served as an attorney in C.A.R.’s Member Legal Services Department in Los Angeles. He has published several articles on legal topics affecting real estate licensees. Sanjay received his law degree from the University of Southern California.

Michael Wara

Director

Stanford University

Climate and Energy Policy Program

Dr. Wara’s legal and policy scholarship focuses on wildfire, climate mitigation, energy innovation, and regulated industries. He collaborates with economists, engineers and scientists in research on the design and evaluation of technical and regulatory solutions to society's climate and energy challenges. Wara has served as a Wildfire Commissioner for the California, as a member of the California Catastrophe Council, the oversight body of the California Wildfire Fund, as a consultant to the Senate pro Tem on wildfire issues, and as a consultant to CPUC and OEIS on utility wildfire risk management. Previous to his current role, Wara was an associate professor at Stanford Law School and an associate in Holland & Knight’s government practice. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz.