California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced plans on Friday to reform a key part of the state’s insurance law known as Proposition 103. Passed by voters back in 1988, Prop. 103 sets rules for how insurance rates are reviewed and approved. One feature of this law lets outside groups, called intervenors, take part in insurance rate hearings and receive fees for their work representing consumers.
Lara’s proposed changes focus on making this intervenor process clearer and more transparent. Some people have raised concerns that only a few groups regularly take part, which can slow things down and add costs that end up hurting consumers and taxpayers. One of the most active intervenors is Consumer Watchdog, whose founder actually helped write Prop. 103. The group has been contacted for comment on the new proposals.
Under the new rules, Lara wants to better define how intervenors qualify for payment, ensure the process is open to more participants, and stop any single group from dominating. The plan also calls for public updates on ongoing cases every 30 days and making all related documents easy to find online—replacing old, physical viewing rooms that were less convenient.
Lara emphasized that many Californians are frustrated by hidden fees on top of already high insurance costs. "California’s insurance crisis demands tough decisions and accountability from everyone involved," he said. The goal is to create a process that delivers quick, fair, and clear decisions instead of delays that hold back real progress.
These reforms aim to improve how insurance rates are reviewed so consumers get better protection and more transparency in how their money is handled. With insurance costs continuing to rise, changes like these could make a difference in helping Californians get fairer rates.