California homeowners get 2 years of postfire insurance protection under governor's bill

Governor Newsom signed AB 2038 by Altadena assemblymember John Harabedian, extending from one to two years the period during which insurers cannot cancel or refuse to renew homeowner policies after a declared disaster in or near a fire zone. For homes that are total losses, the law also extends mandatory renewal coverage from 24 to 36 months.

The law takes effect January 1, 2027. It does not address whether homeowners whose total-loss protection already began before the law takes effect gain the longer 36-month period.