Costs Keep Rising
Affordability is one of the biggest concerns in California. Families are stretched thin.
People are paying more for:
- Housing
- Insurance
- Everyday bills like groceries, gas, and utilities
California families are facing major challenges:
Wildfire risk continues to grow
Home insurance is getting harder to find and more expensive to buy
Rising costs of wildfire effects everyone
California is one major wildfire away from our recovery system collapsing.
It's time for a better approach.
The Problem
WILDFIRES ARE
A REAL THREAT
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more severe. Nearly 2 in 5 Californians have been affected by wildfires in recent years. And we all pay for the recovery.
People expect serious support, strong prevention and real accountability.
The Insurance System Is Breaking Down
Home insurance is getting harder to find and afford:
- Many families are losing coverage
- Prices are rising fast
- Insurers are leaving the state
Many homeowners say insurance is near impossible to find and hard to keep.
The FAIR Plan Is Failing
The FAIR Plan is California's "last resort" insurance. It is meant for people who cannot get coverage anywhere else. With more wildfires and more insurers leaving the state, more Californians are being forced onto the plan.
- Costs more
- Covers less
- Is under strain and may not be able to pay future claims
More families are being pushed into this system — and it is not built to handle it.
Victims Are Not Put First
After a wildfire, families should get help right away. Instead, the system is broken.
- Payments can take years
- The process is confusing
- Victims are last in line
Billboard attorneys can take up to 40% of victim settlements. Hedge funds are profiting off victims who need help now. Victims are being forced to wait years before seeing any money to rebuild their lives. Lawyers can collect millions — while families are still trying to recover. It's not right.
Our Plan
A BETTER APPROACH
Our Plan
1. Protect people from wildfires
The first step is keeping people safe. More must be done to stop wildfires before they start or become catastrophic. That means better coordination across the state, including smarter land use, stronger wildfire prevention efforts from utilities, and clearer incentives for homeowners to reduce risk on their own property. Californians want a system with strong safety standards, real accountability, and a clear focus on prevention — and there is a better way to deliver that.
2. Make insurance available and affordable
California's insurance system needs to work for everyone. Today, too many families cannot find coverage or are paying too much for too little. A better system will make comprehensive insurance available, help stabilize prices, and reduce reliance on last-resort options like the FAIR Plan.
3. Pay victims first, fast, and fairly
When disaster strikes, families need help right away — not months or years later. A better system ensures faster payments, simpler claims, and a clear priority: victims come first, not lawyers or delays.
The Solution
The Wildfire Victims
First Framework
The Wildfire Victims First Framework creates a better system for California — one that focuses on prevention, affordability, and fairness. It is designed to protect people before disasters happen, make insurance available and affordable for all Californians, and ensure that victims are paid first, fast, and fairly after a wildfire.
Billboard attorneys can take up to 40% of victim settlements. Hedge funds are profiting off victims who need help now. Victims are being forced to wait years before seeing any money to rebuild their lives.
How the Framework Works
The framework brings together stronger prevention, clearer accountability, and faster recovery into one system. It sets higher standards for wildfire safety and ensures that all responsible parties are part of reducing risk, while also making sure the system works for the people it is meant to protect.
At the same time, the framework changes what happens after a disaster. It creates a faster, simpler claims process so victims can get money quickly and start rebuilding their lives without years of delay. Instead of a system where costs fall unevenly on utility customers, the framework spreads responsibility more fairly across the system.
By reducing risk, cutting settlement payment delays, and focusing on prevention, the framework also helps control long-term costs — making the system more stable and sustainable for California families over time.
“Failure to act, or a conscious decision not to act, on risk reduction and on opportunities to enhance the functionality of our insurance markets and electric utilities will have large near-term and severe long-term adverse consequences for Californians.”
— SB254 2025 Study Report, Page 33, 4/7/26
Join the Movement
Join the Coalition
Stand with wildfire victims and join our growing coalition.
Read the Framework
Get the full policy brief on the Wildfire Victims First Framework — our three-part plan to prevent fires, fix insurance, and put victims first.
Download Fact SheetSTAND WITH WILDFIRE VICTIMS
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