KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

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AB-1986 • 2026

Residential property insurance: home hardening.

Residential property insurance: home hardening.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Bennett
Last action
2026-03-02
Official status
Referred to Com. on INS.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide details on how insurance companies must respond when homeowners request quotes, only that they should provide two types of quotes upon request.

Home Hardening for Insurance Discounts

This law requires insurance companies to provide two quotes when homeowners ask about home insurance: one if their house is certified as 'hardened' against wildfires and another based on its current state.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires insurance companies to provide two types of quotes for residential property insurance upon request by homeowners.
  • One quote must show the cost with a home hardening certification, which means the house has taken steps to protect it from wildfires.
  • The other quote shows what the price would be without any special certifications or changes made to the house.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeowners who ask for residential property insurance quotes
  • Insurance companies that provide residential property insurance

Terms To Know

home hardening certification
A special approval given to a house after it has taken steps to protect itself from wildfires.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much cheaper the insurance might be with home hardening certification.
  • It is unclear if all insurance companies will follow this rule once it becomes law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on INS.

  2. 2026-02-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.

  3. 2026-02-13 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1986, as introduced, Bennett.
Residential property insurance: home hardening.
Existing law authorizes the Office of the State Fire Marshal to allow certification of contractors who conduct defensible space, home hardening, fuel reduction, roadside clearance, and other contracting activities for wildfire resiliency efforts and who have completed specified training programs.
Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including residential property and fire insurance. Existing law creates the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, and prescribes the department’s powers and duties. Existing department regulations prohibit an insurer from using a rating plan that does not take into account and reflect specified wildfire risk mitigation, including property-level building hardening measures.
Upon request for a premium quote for residential property
insurance, this bill would require a specified insurer to provide a premium quote for the residential property that includes the price of insurance if the property is certified as “hardened” by a home hardening certification program established or approved by the State Fire Marshal and a premium quote for the residential property in its current state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF