AB-1236 • 2026

Insurance: Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Grant Program.

Budget

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Celeste Rodriguez
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included terms like 'natural infrastructure' which are not mentioned in the provided official bill summary or digest.

Climate and Sustainability Insurance Grant Program

This law establishes a grant program to be run by the Department of Insurance for reducing climate risks through insurance options and community-purchased insurance.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Grant Program, which will be administered by the Department of Insurance.
Funds the program upon appropriation by the Legislature.
Develops proofs of concept to expand insurance options for climate risks.
Tests community-purchased insurance to reduce overall costs.
Requires reports on program results starting in 2029 and every three years thereafter.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Insurance
Communities facing climate risks

Terms To Know

Climate change: Long-term changes in weather patterns, often caused by human activities.

Limits and Unknowns

The program will end on January 1, 2035.
It is not clear how much funding the Legislature will provide each year.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-18 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1236, as amended, Celeste Rodriguez.
Insurance: Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Grant Program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, and provides for the powers and duties of the commissioner. Existing law requires the commissioner to convene a working group to identify, assess, and recommend risk transfer market mechanisms that promote investment in natural infrastructure to reduce the risks of climate change related to catastrophic events, create incentives for investment in natural infrastructure to reduce risks to communities, and provide mitigation incentives for private investment in natural lands to lessen exposure and reduce climate risks to public safety, property, utilities, and infrastructure.
This bill would require the department to establish and administer the Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Grant Program, to be funded upon appropriation by the
Legislature, for the purpose of achieving specified goals, including developing proofs of concept that expand insurance options and testing community-purchased insurance to reduce overall insurance costs, as specified. The bill would require the department to report to the
Legislature
Senate Committee on Insurance and the Assembly Committee on Insurance
on program results on or before January 1, 2029, and on or before January 1 every 3 years thereafter. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2035.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF