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AB 1559

Residential property insurance images.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Calderon and 1 co-sponsor

Insurers must disclose and provide access to aerial images used in underwriting or termination decisions, and image-based actions must rely on images no older than 180 days unless

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
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Bill Summary · AB 1559

Summary of AB 1559 (2025-2026) – Residential Property Insurance Images (California)

Purpose and intent

AB 1559 would add a new provision to the California Insurance Code requiring admitted insurers to inform residential property policyholders about the use of aerial images in underwriting and coverage decisions. The bill aims to enhance transparency around aerial imagery used for insurance purposes and to provide policyholders with rights to access and challenge such imagery, particularly when used to cancel, nonrenew, or reduce coverage.

Key feature: The operative provisions would take effect on July 1, 2027.

Key provisions and changes

  • Notice and transparency (new Section 2035(a))

    • Insurers must notify residential property policyholders that aerial images may be taken or obtained of the insured property during the policy period.
    • Notices must be provided at least annually, with the initial issuance and upon each renewal, and must appear on a separate page.
    • The notice must include:
    • A clear statement in at least 14-point bold font about the use of aerial images in underwriting decisions.
    • The policyholder’s rights to request and receive aerial images, and to an in-person inspection to verify image accuracy if an image is used to cancel, nonrenew, or reduce coverage.
    • The right to dispute image accuracy and to provide remediation evidence, per insurer details.
    • A requirement that aerial images cannot be used in decisions to cancel/nonrenew/reduce coverage if older than 180 days, unless independent verification within 180 days confirms accuracy.
    • If a claim is submitted or pending, the restriction on using older aerial images applies only to the claim’s evaluation; images may be used for claim purposes as applicable.

  • Access to imagery (section 2035(b))

    • Insurers must provide any aerial images upon request within 30 days of receiving the request.

  • Restrictions on termination decisions (section 2035(c))

    • Decisions to terminate insurance coverage cannot be based on an aerial image more than 180 days old, unless conditions are verified as accurate/persistent/valid via in-person inspection or an approved verification process within 180 days.
    • Exceptions: images used in probabilistic/predictive risk models for aggregate losses or wildfire location risk, reviewed by the department under applicable standards.

  • Aerial image handling with termination notices (section 2035(d))

    • If termination is based on an aerial image, the image must be included with the termination notice.

  • Remediation and dispute rights (sections 2035(e)-(f))

    • Policyholders have the option to request in-person inspection or use insurer-approved processes to verify image accuracy and remediation before the termination takes effect.

  • General definitions (section 2035(h))

    • “Aerial image” includes images/videos from aircraft or satellites, regardless of direct human operation.

Who is affected

  • Admitted residential property insurers operating in California.
  • California residential property policyholders (homeowners, renters, and other insureds under standard residential property policies).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Operative date for the new requirements: July 1, 2027.
  • Notices must be sent at least annually and with each policy renewal, on a separate page.
  • Imaged-based termination decisions must comply with the 180-day verification requirement, with limited exceptions for specific risk-model uses.
  • Policyholders have a formal process to request images, dispute accuracy, and arrange remediation verification (in-person or insurer-approved alternatives).

Overall impact

The bill imposes new transparency and consumer-protection requirements around the use of aerial imagery in underwriting and termination decisions, creates a right of access to imagery, and establishes procedures to challenge and verify imagery-based decisions, with a defined 180-day recency standard for images used in adverse actions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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