News Releases

Mandatory Fast Pay For Wildfire Survivors Would Have Prevented Public From Finding Evidence That Showed Edison Started The Eaton Fire, Legislators Need To Make Voluntary

August 28, 2026  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — Consumer Watchdog said that if Governor Newsom’s mandatory Fast Pay proposal – requiring wildfire survivors to complete the program before filing a lawsuit...

California Legislature Protects Wildfire Survivors’ Rights and Rejects Higher Insurance Costs 

August 28, 2026  ·  Jamie Court

Legislature Stands Up to Governor Newsom and His Utility Allies, Delivering a Major Victory for Wildfire Survivors and Consumers  SACRAMENTO, CA — Every Fire Survivor’s Network...

Survivors Provide Recommendations for Any Wildfire Liability Legislation Written Today

August 28, 2026  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA – Today is the final day any wildfire liability legislation can be put in print. Every Fire Survivor’s Network and Consumer Watchdog issued...

Assembly Bailout Plan Codifies Bad Lara Regulations That Cost Consumers $562 Million And Created Only 10,000 New Homeowners Policies; Locking In Rate Hikes

August 27, 2026  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA —  An Assembly working group document (opens in new tab) recommends codifying failed Department of Insurance regulations that allow home insurance companies to raise rates based on...

Wildfire Survivors Call on Lawmakers to Reject Gov’s 11th-Hour Legislative Utility Bail Out for Fires They Cause; Urge “No Lines Between Survivors”

August 25, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – Over fifty wildfire survivors from across California gathered outside the Capitol building today to call on California lawmakers to stand with survivors and reject...

Three Bills to Reform Insurance Claims Abuses and Help Homeowners Keep Their Insurance Pass Final Committee, Head to CA Assembly Floor

August 13, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – Three bills to help families prevent home insurance nonrenewals and require fair and timely payouts of a claim after a disaster were...

Investigation Maps For-Profit Utilities’ $366 Million Disinformation Echo Chamber as Newsom Pushes Wildfire Bailout

August 6, 2026  ·  Alexandra Nagy

Report documents years of lobbying, campaign contributions, charitable giving and political relationships that culminated in utility bailout plan Sacramento, CA — As Governor Gavin Newsom develops...

Utilities Break California Lobbying Record Under Newsom While Former Aides Lead Utility-Backed Wildfire Coalition

August 3, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

New disclosures show utilities spent a record $16.7 million lobbying Sacramento through the first six quarters of the 2025–2026 legislative session as lawmakers consider a...

California’s For-Profit Utilities Bankroll “Wildfire Victims First” Front Group to Push Utility Bailout

July 28, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Consumer Watchdog analysis finds 66% of coalition organizations received utility money while utilities bankroll campaign to escape accountability for catastrophic wildfires Sacramento, CA — Consumer Watchdog today...

Consumer Alert Warns Gov. Newsom Against 11th Hour Plan to Bail Out Utilities for Fires They Cause; Exposes Ads from Utility Front Group Targeting Politicians  

July 22, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – A new Consumer Alert video (opens in new tab) from Consumer Watchdog exposes a new ad campaign by the phony “Wildfire Victims First” group as...

Legislation to Help Californians Keep Home Insurance Advances from Assembly Insurance Committee Today

June 24, 2026  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – A bill to help homeowners keep their insurance by requiring greater disclosure of reasons for nonrenewal and instructions for how to keep coverage...

Fire Survivors Seek Formal Role in State Farm Claims-Handling Enforcement Proceeding

June 18, 2026  ·  Will Pletcher

Every Fire Survivor’s Network asks to intervene in California Department of Insurance case over State Farm’s handling of Eaton and Palisades Fire claims PACIFIC PALISADES, CA —...