AB-1559 • 2026

Residential property insurance images.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Calderon
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about what happens when insurance companies use recent aerial images to decide whether to end coverage, beyond requiring them to notify and give opportunities for dispute resolution.

Rules for Insurance Companies Using Aerial Images

AB-1559 sets rules for admitted insurance companies about using aerial images of homes and how they can use these pictures to decide if they should keep or end a homeowner's insurance policy.

What This Bill Does

Requires admitted insurers to notify homeowners when they might take aerial photos of their houses, unless the photos are only needed for an ongoing claim.
Allows homeowners to ask for copies of any aerial images taken of their property.
Stops admitted insurers from ending a homeowner's policy based on pictures older than 180 days before they notify the homeowner about ending coverage.
Requires admitted insurers to give homeowners the chance to check and fix issues shown in photos if those photos are used to decide whether to end coverage.

Who It Names or Affects

Homeowners with residential property insurance
Admitted insurance companies that offer residential property insurance

Terms To Know

Admitted insurer: An insurance company that is allowed to sell policies in a state after meeting certain requirements.
Aerial image: Photos taken from the air, like by drones or airplanes, showing views of homes and properties.

Limits and Unknowns

The rules only apply to admitted insurers.
These new rules will start working on July 1, 2027.

Bill History

2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on INS. and P. & C.P.
2026-01-09 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 8.
2026-01-08 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1559, as amended, Calderon.
Residential property insurance images.
Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including residential property insurance. Existing law requires an insurer to send various notices to a policyholder at specified intervals.
This bill would require an admitted insurer to notify a residential property insurance policyholder that aerial images may be taken or obtained of the insured property, as specified, unless a claim has been submitted or is pending on the property and the images will be used only for evaluating the claim. The bill would require the insurer to provide the aerial images upon request, as specified, and would require the notice to include instructions regarding how a policyholder may make that request.
This bill would prohibit an admitted insurer from basing a decision to terminate insurance coverage, as defined,
on an aerial image
of the insured property
taken more than 180 days prior to sending notice of that decision to the policyholder, except as specified. The bill would require an admitted insurer that bases a decision to terminate insurance coverage on an aerial image to provide the policyholder with that aerial image, notice of that decision, and the opportunity to dispute the accuracy of the image, and to verify remediation, before the effective date of the decision to terminate insurance coverage.
This bill would make the above-described provisions operative on July 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF