Assembly Member Calderon's residential property insurance legislation establishes new protocols for insurers using unmanned aircraft to photograph policyholder properties, requiring advance notification and image access for property owners.

Under the proposed requirements, admitted insurers must mail notices to policyholders at least 30 days before deploying unmanned aircraft to capture images of insured properties. These notifications, which may also be sent electronically, must include instructions for requesting copies of any photographs taken. The notification requirements do not apply when claims are pending or have been submitted for the property in question.

The measure adds to existing insurance regulations by creating specific procedures for drone photography while maintaining current notice requirements for other insurance matters. The provisions apply only to admitted insurers operating in California and utilize existing United States Postal Service systems for official communications between insurers and policyholders.