Remnants of John Diehl’s State Farm business in Altadena (Photo – Colorado Boulevard Newspaper)
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) issued a strong rebuke following the state’s decision to approve State Farm’s request for an emergency rate increase, calling the move a blow to fire victims still struggling to recover from devastating losses.
By News Desk
In a public statement, Senator Pérez criticized the decision as ignoring the needs of constituents affected by the Eaton Fire and undermining the accountability of one of the nation’s largest insurers. “The decision to grant State Farm’s unprecedented request for an emergency rate increase disregards the hardships faced by fire victims and their calls for accountability,” she said.
Pérez, who led a group of lawmakers urging Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to delay the rate hike, highlighted a wave of complaints from Los Angeles County fire victims — many from her own district — detailing troubling experiences with the company. These included reports of delayed or denied claims, excessive documentation demands, and unresponsive customer service.
“This rate increase raises questions about California’s regulatory priorities and suggests prioritizing the financial interest of State Farm over the needs of fire victims,” Pérez stated. “My constituents suffered significant losses in the Eaton Fire and deserve a full investigation into their complaints.”
She called for greater scrutiny of insurance practices, emphasizing that families affected by large-scale disasters deserve support from reliable carriers, not added financial pressure or bureaucratic hurdles. “The state must do more to hold State Farm accountable to ensure it meets its obligation to policyholders,” she added.
Senator Pérez, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, represents California’s 25th Senate District, which includes communities such as Pasadena, Glendale, and Rancho Cucamonga.
Everyone should condemn it and Lara should not have approved it.