Sen. Bill Dodd, a Democrat whose district includes the Napa area, co-authored the proposal. In the wake of major fires, Dodd said community agencies and groups in his district have made significant investments to protect themselves from future ones.

He called it “high time” for insurers to “account for those wildfire prevention actions.”

Sen. Susan Rubio, the committee chair, disagreed. The Democrat, whose district includes Baldwin Park, also said the measure felt premature. But she voted for the bill to move forward and asked Becker to continue working on it.

Later, committee members rejected a bill, Senate Bill 1229, that would have required insurers to disclose when they use artificial intelligence to make decisions that affect home and auto policies.

It would also have forced the companies to share when they use the technology while reviewing claims.

“I believe the consumer has the right to know,” said the bill’s author, Sen. Janet Nguyen, a Republican who represents the Huntington Beach area.

Trade group representatives argued the requirement may seem inconsequential but it could further burden companies when many are pausing or restricting business in the state.

Before voting against the bill, committee members cautioned that what counts as artificial intelligence is unsettled and the use of the technology, in these cases, is not inherently wrong.

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