Losing a home to wildfire is overwhelming. For years, one of the hardest parts of the claim came weeks later, when policyholders were asked to list every item they owned, room by room, with ages and prices. California lawmakers responded with Senate Bill 495, sometimes called the "Eliminate the List Act." It took effect on January 1, 2026, and it changes how much money you can receive for your belongings before you complete that list.
This guide explains what SB 495 does, who qualifies, how it differs from the old rule, and what you should still do to protect yourself. If you own a home or rent, it is worth understanding now, before you ever need it.
What SB 495 changes
The core change is the size of the advance payment for personal property, also called contents coverage. When a furnished primary residence is a total loss in a state of emergency, your insurer must offer to pay at least 60 percent of your contents policy limit, up to $350,000, without requiring an itemized inventory.
Before SB 495, the floor was 30 percent of the contents limit with a $250,000 cap. That earlier rule, created after the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons, helped, but many families found 30 percent did not go far when they needed to replace clothes, furniture, tools and everything else at once.
Under the new rule, if your homeowners policy has $300,000 in contents coverage, the no-list offer would be $180,000. With $700,000 in contents coverage, 60 percent would be $420,000, so the $350,000 cap applies.
Who qualifies
A declared state of emergency. The loss must be connected to an event covered by a state of emergency declaration, such as a major wildfire.
A total loss. The home must be a total loss, not partially damaged.
A furnished primary dwelling. The rule focuses on your main home, furnished at the time of the loss. Vacation homes and unfurnished rentals may be treated differently.
Tenants with renters insurance should ask their insurer how SB 495 applies to their policy form, since contents coverage is the main part of a renters policy. Condo owners with a condo unit policy should do the same.
You can still claim 100 percent
The 60 percent payment is a floor, not a ceiling. If you provide a detailed inventory, you can still claim the remainder of your contents limit. Your insurer must tell you about this option when you file a claim tied to a state of emergency. Think of the 60 percent payment as fast money to start rebuilding your life, while you work on documentation for the rest.
When policy forms must match the law
SB 495 applies to losses on or after January 1, 2026. Some analyses note that insurers must update policy forms issued or renewed on and after July 1, 2026. If you have a claim during that transition, ask your insurer in writing which rule they are applying and why. Losses that happened before 2026, including many from the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, generally remain under the earlier 30 percent rule.
Other disaster claim rights to know
SB 495 sits alongside other California protections for wildfire and disaster claims. California law already provides extended time for additional living expenses after a total loss in a declared emergency, and extra time to rebuild before certain replacement cost benefits expire. Our guide to navigating claims covers general claim habits that apply to any loss, and our claims help page explains how to report a claim.
It is also worth knowing how coverage limits are set in the first place. A higher contents limit means a larger 60 percent payment, so review your limits at renewal, especially if you have bought furniture, electronics or tools since you last updated your policy.
Checking your contents limit at renewal
Because the advance is a percentage of your limit, the limit itself is the number to review. Families who have added home offices, hobby equipment or children's furniture often find their contents coverage lags behind what they own. Landlords should remember that a landlord policy usually covers only the owner's appliances and furnishings, not tenants' belongings. If you have significant assets to protect from lawsuits, pair adequate limits with an umbrella policy. When you review limits, it can also be a good time to look at bundling and to request an updated quote so you can compare the cost of higher limits across carriers.
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How to prepare before a disaster
Record a quick video walkthrough. Open closets and drawers and narrate as you go. Store the video in cloud storage, not only on your phone.
Keep receipts digitally. Photograph receipts for major purchases and save them in a shared family folder.
Check your contents limit. Many policies set contents coverage as a percentage of the dwelling limit. Ask whether that percentage fits what you actually own.
Understand replacement cost. Replacement cost coverage pays to buy new items; actual cash value subtracts depreciation. Ask which applies to your contents.
Harden your home. Mitigation lowers the chance of a total loss and can earn Safer from Wildfires discounts.
If you are on the FAIR Plan
The California FAIR Plan offers optional contents coverage on its dwelling policies. If you carry FAIR Plan coverage, check whether you added personal property protection and what the limit is. With the FAIR Plan's 2026 rate increase in effect, some homeowners are tempted to drop contents coverage to save money. SB 495 is a reminder of how much that coverage can matter after a total loss.
What the politics mean for claims
SB 495 passed with broad support after the 2025 fires, and the incoming Insurance Commissioner has said claims handling and availability will be priorities. The Department of Insurance enforces claims rules, so if an insurer does not offer the payment you believe you are owed, you can file a complaint with the Department. Keep notes of every call and save every email.
A real-world example
Consider a family in a wildfire-prone canyon with $250,000 of contents coverage. Their home is destroyed in a fire that the Governor has declared a state of emergency. Under SB 495, they can ask for $150,000 for belongings without a list. They use the money for clothing, temporary furniture and work tools. Over the next months, they rebuild an inventory using photos, bank statements and online order histories, and claim the remaining $100,000. Under the old rule, the no-list payment would have been $75,000.
Frequently asked questions
Does SB 495 apply to every claim?
No. It applies to total losses of a furnished primary dwelling connected to a declared state of emergency.
Do I have to accept the 60 percent payment?
It is an option. You can accept it and still claim the rest with an inventory, or document everything from the start.
Is the $350,000 cap per household or per policy?
The cap applies to the advance payment on the policy's contents coverage. Ask your insurer how it applies if you carry more than one policy.
Does SB 495 apply to vehicles?
No. Vehicles are covered under auto insurance, usually through comprehensive coverage.
Where can I get help with a disaster claim?
Your agent, the California Department of Insurance consumer hotline and local recovery centers can help. You can also contact our office for help reviewing your policy before a loss.
This is general information and not legal advice. Policy wording and the statute control.
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