Local service providers are grappling with new work requirements that recipients of CalFresh will have to meet over the coming months.

Organizations in Eureka are bolstering training programs and coordinating volunteer opportunities, aiming to help people meet requirements their food security depends on.

Still, thousands are expected to lose benefits, something projected to add strain to the local hunger safety net.

Incoming requirements could kick 3,500 local people off CalFresh

Starting June 1 in California, adults from ages 18-64 will have to work, volunteer or train at least 80 hours a month to keep food benefits, with some exceptions.

Alisha Babel, Humboldt County’s CalFresh program manager, said the county has had a waiver for decades exempting people here from work rules, due to the area’s high unemployment rate.

But now, so-called “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents” will need to meet work requirements to get benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period.

Babel said people will have to meet these requirements once they renew their benefits, meaning it could be up to a year before some will see the change. But anyone newly applying for CalFresh will have to meet these standards after June 1.

There are a few exceptions. People who are disabled, homeless, students in school more than half time, pregnant, or have children under 14 aren’t subject to these requirements. Click here to find exemptions.

These requirements for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, were put into law in July 2025’s H.R. 1. When fully implemented, up to 4 million people may lose some or all of their food assistance, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.

In Humboldt County, about 3,500 people are expected to be affected by the change, according to a county estimate.

According to a recent UC Davis Labor and Community Center report, 22.5% of Humboldt County residents aged 18 to 59 were enrolled in CalFresh in 2024. That’s more than double the statewide rate.

Local organizations prepare for new requirements

To prepare for the changes, local service providers are getting their ducks in a row to help people meet the demands.

Uplift Eureka, which regularly offers trainings to help people get jobs, is relaunching their Job Skills Training Program in June. The program, funded by a CalTrans grant, will have participants pick up litter, learn mural painting from artist Lucas Thornton and attend classroom training on job skills.

“We’re already outreaching to potential participants that might be interested in this to make sure that they are aware that this is available. And we’re working closely with the county to make sure that they know that this is a program that will meet those work requirements,” said Sierra Wood, Uplift’s community resources program coordinator.

Workers at Uplift Eureka’s Community Resource Center host periodical Pathway to Payday training sessions, and offer general access to training on interview skills and phones and computers to help people get jobs.

Uplift is preparing a system to link people with local organizations to volunteer at to meet the requirements.

“We can help them identify which organizations are seeking volunteers and how many hours they’re looking for, what the work would be, connecting them directly with those organizations, and then assisting them with completing the time tracking requirements that the county requires,” said Wood. She said this — along with training — will help people working part time supplement their hours to meet the requirement.

Uplift’s Eureka’s computers pictured in 2025, which people can use to apply for jobs. Photo: Andrew Goff

Meanwhile, the County is aiming to refer as many people as possible to a county CalFresh employment training. Eligibility specialists there have been preparing for months to implement and walk people through the new requirements.

Still, staff at Uplift are not expecting to be able to help everyone keep their benefits — and social workers say they are concerned with the work requirements themselves.

Wood said local chains often keep people working low hours. Clients of the resource center struggle to match job schedules with bus schedules and childcare.

“It’s a difficult time to find work as well,” she added.

Those in rural areas of the county are particularly expected to struggle to meet requirements, with limited job or volunteer opportunities or internet access.

And because of the paperwork, which Wood said puts the onus on the recipient who is already experiencing financial insecurity, there’s a chance people will opt to give up their benefits.

“Food insecurity is a huge issue here, and oftentimes these benefits are what some people are solely using to get food. They don’t have their own income to rely on, so they’re using CalFresh benefits and then different food pantries like Food for People. So losing access to this means not having adequate meals, not having nutritious meals,” said Wood.

Jeff Davis, Uplift project manager, said alongside other decisions at the federal level, some will see a spread of their benefits go away.

“Their health care, their food and their housing might all be simultaneously impacted by actions at the federal level, and it could be catastrophic,” he said.

Food For People hopes changes can still be reversed

Humboldt County’s food bank expects these requirements to jack up use of the food bank, which the organization saw late last year when SNAP benefits were delayed during a government shutdown.

They’re expecting wide ripple effects from changes in H.R. 1, if they are solidified in an upcoming piece of legislation.

“It’s scary for anyone out there who is in the food security world, because food insecurity, hunger is only going up, even before these changes have started,” said Carly Robbins, executive director of Food for People.

“We’re all seeing it. Food costs more, housing, gas, all of that costs more. So getting the food you need on the table has only become harder for the average American,” she said.

The House passed a version of the bill locking in the $187 billion in cuts to SNAP last week.

Senate Democrats are pushing for SNAP changes enacted in H.R. 1 to be amended, amid ongoing debates over long-deferred updates to the Farm Bill, which funds the vast majority of the SNAP program.

In a statement, Food For People said the Farm Bill changes that will threaten food security include increased state administrative cost, SNAP benefit cost-sharing for states, and the $187 billion in cuts to SNAP.

Food For People is hopeful the changes can be walked back under the Farm Bill.

“Food banks cannot tackle food security alone. For every meal a food bank provides, SNAP delivers nine,” Food For People’s statement said. 

Babel, from Humboldt County, emphasized eligibility specialists are there to answer questions and support people through the paperwork.

“We’ll definitely be looking at the regulations so that we can maintain eligibility for as many people as possible,” said Babel.

For those in Eureka interested in being linked with employment programs, Uplift Eureka’s resource center is located at located at 1111 E Street and their phone number is 707-441-4242.

Isabella Vanderheiden contributed to this report

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 4th, 2026, Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) Agents observed Elsheleke Giddens travel from Humboldt County to the Bay Area. Upon Giddens’ return, Agents conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle. Giddens is on formal probation with a search and seizure clause for HS11351 (cocaine sales) from a previous HCDTF case.

Giddens was detained without incident and his vehicle was searched. Fortuna Police K9 Cain alerted to the rear of Giddens’ vehicle, indicating narcotics were inside. Agents searched the area and located a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine.

Giddens was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:

• HS11351: Possession of cocaine for sales
• HS11352: Transporting cocaine for sales
• HS11352(B): Transportation of a controlled substance (noncontiguous counties)
• PC1203.2: Violation of probation

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On May 4, 2026, officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD) were conducting proactive enforcement as part of a Department of Justice (DOJ) Tobacco Grant operation in the area of Fourth and J Streets. This effort was conducted in collaboration with Operation Gateway 101, a proactive initiative focused on improving traffic safety and quality of life along the U.S. Highway 101 corridor.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., EPD’s School Resource Officer (SRO) and Mental Health (MIST) officer observed a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction between the driver of a silver Mercedes-Benz and a pedestrian near a gas station in the 1100 block of Fourth Street.

The driver, identified as 59-year-old Clayton Winfrey of Eureka, attempted to leave the area but was stopped for an additional traffic violation. Upon contact, officers observed drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Winfrey then fled westbound on Fourth Street toward Broadway. Officers initiated a pursuit but briefly lost sight of the vehicle as it turned onto Broadway.

Shortly thereafter, an EPD K9 officer located the vehicle traveling southbound near Railroad Avenue. The vehicle stopped near the intersection of Del Norte Street and Railroad Avenue, and Winfrey fled on foot into nearby brush, where he was seen discarding items. The K9 unit was deployed, and officers pursued on foot. With a coordinated response from multiple officers, Winfrey surrendered before the K9 was used for apprehension.

Officers recovered cash and a significant quantity of narcotics that Winfrey had discarded in the brush. In total, approximately 38.25 grams of methamphetamine and 14.48 grams of fentanyl were seized.

Winfrey was taken into custody and booked on felony charges, including evading a peace officer, possession of narcotics for sale, transportation of a controlled substance for sale, and possession of a controlled substance. This arrest highlights the intent and effectiveness of coordinated enforcement efforts and specialized units working together to improve the overall quality of life within the community. EPD remains committed to addressing quality of life and traffic related safety issues through proactive policing and targeted operations.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Sheriff’s Office Announces ‘Saturation Patrols’ in the Hoopa Area, Highlights Some Arrests Made to Date

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On May 4, 2026, at approximately 6:50 p.m., deputies conducting saturation patrol operations in the Hoopa area arrested 32-year-old Orico Bailey at Lucky Bear Casino on an outstanding felony bench warrant. During the contact, Bailey was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance and was confirmed to be on probation.

At approximately 6:55 p.m., deputies contacted 30-year-old Miranda Moering across the street from the casino, who was found to have two out-of-county warrants. Moering was taken into custody without incident. Both individuals were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked on the following charges:

• Orico Bailey: PC 978.5 Bench Warrant/Failure to Appear on Felony Charge, HS 11377(a) Possession of a Controlled Substance, PC 1203.2(a) Probation Violation
• Miranda Moering: PC 978.5 Bench Warrant/Failure to Appear on Felony Charge, PC 978.5 Bench Warrant/Failure to Appear on Misdemeanor Charge

At approximately 9:57 p.m., additional deputies assigned to the Hoopa saturation patrol were driving in the 12700 block of State Highway 96 when they observed a vehicle with a mechanical violation. They initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 400 block of Tish Tang Road. Deputies were advised that the vehicle was an unreported-stolen vehicle and that another deputy was in the process of taking the stolen vehicle report. The vehicle failed to yield to the vehicle’s emergency lights and siren, resulting in a brief vehicle pursuit. The vehicle eventually came to a stop, and deputies identified the driver as 23-year-old Ruben Williams.

During the investigation, deputies detected the odor of alcohol emanating from Williams and requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol to conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) evaluation. Based on the CHP’s evaluation, their preliminary investigation, and statements, deputies arrested Williams.

Also present in the vehicle were a 15-year-old male juvenile and a 21-year-old male passenger. The juvenile was released into the custody of the 21-year-old passenger, who was determined to be his brother.

Williams was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked on the following charges:

• VC 10851 Take Vehicle w/o Owner’s Consent/Vehicle Theft
• VC 23152(a) DUI
• VC 23152(b) DUI Alcohol / 0.08 Percent or More
• VC 2800.1 Evading Peace Officer
• PC 273A(b) Child Abuse without GBI
• VC 12500(a) Drive w/o License

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to proactive patrol operations within the Hoopa area. These efforts are strategic and directly address community concerns regarding ongoing criminal activity impacting the Hoopa Valley. We will continue to strengthen and support our partnership with the Hoopa Tribal Community as we work collaboratively to enhance public safety and protect residents throughout the valley.

Anyone with information about these cases or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• CHARBURGER INCOMING! Habit Burger to Set Up Shop at the Old Sizzler Location in Eureka
• Long-Delayed Habit Burger Is, In Fact, Still Coming to Eureka, as Is a LOCAL Smashburger Joint

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The Eureka branch of Habit Burger was announced two and a half years ago, underwent a quick spurt of construction, sat there for a long time doing nothing, and then was finally finished. People stopped believing in it. 

But here it is.

Press release from Habit Burger

Habit, the California-based restaurant company renowned for its award-winning Charburgers grilled over an open flame, signature sandwiches, fresh salads, and more, announces today the launch of their latest Northern California drive-thru restaurant opening in Eureka, California. The new restaurant’s address is 1917 5th St., Eureka, CA 95501. Their famous “Habit Hospitality” will be served to the public starting Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

In honor of their grand opening, Habit will host exclusive pre-opening VIP events for their MyHabit and mobile app members. Guests can receive an invite to this exclusive sneak peek by signing up at https://order.habitburger.com/.

VIP Event Details:

Free Charburger Day (Saturday, May 9): The first 200 guests at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. will receive a free freshly made Charburger, fries, and drink. Must be a MyHabit member and present VIP invitation.

Free Habit Day (Monday, May 11): The first 200 guests at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. will receive a free chargrilled meal from one of our pre-set menus. Must be a MyHabit member and present VIP invitation.

Free Habit Day (Tuesday, May 12): The first 200 guests at 11:30 a.m. Must be a MyHabit member and present VIP invitation.

“We couldn’t be more fired up to open Habit in the gorgeous city of Eureka,” said Chef Jason Triail, Executive Chef at Habit. “We love the strong sense of community, the beautiful hiking trails, and all the amazing and historic landmarks. Can’t wait to fire up the grill and serve our charburgers, sandwiches stacked high, and those craveable sides our fans keep coming back for.”

The new Eureka restaurant will offer dine-in, drive-thru, and takeout services; delivery will be available via the Habit Mobile App and online at order.habitburger.com. Guests also have additional convenient ordering options, including state-of-the-art indoor self-serve kiosks and delivery through Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, and Uber Eats.

Habit was named in Thrillist’s list of “Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State!” With its cooked-to-order mantra, Habit’s open flame sears a distinctive smoky flavor into their famous Charburgers, fresh marinated chicken, and sushi-grade ahi tuna. Guests at Habit can always count on freshly-made, handcrafted quality served up with genuine hospitality.

Dining Room Hours: Sun - Thu 10:00-10:00.  F & Sat 10:00-11:00

Connect with Habit: Social media at FB, IG, TikTok, and LinkedIn

About The Habit Restaurants, Inc. Born in sunny Southern California in 1969, Habit Burger & Grill quickly gained a devoted following for its Charburgers, cooked to order over an open flame. Since then, the menu has grown far beyond burgers, offering a fresh take on Californian-inspired flavors. Guests can choose from a meaningful selection of handcrafted sandwiches, crisp salad bowls topped with hot, chargrilled chicken, and creamy handspun shakes, all made fresh and cooked to order.

Habit has earned notable recognition over the years, including its Double Char being ranked #1 twice by USA Today 10Best*, its Tempura Green Beans named the #1 side twice by USA Today 10Best, and the brand itself recognized as the #1 Fast Casual Restaurant by USA Today 10Best. Its Chicken Club was also named the best grilled chicken sandwich by The Daily Meal. In addition, Habit Burger & Grill was featured in Newsweek’s America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains 2023 and included in Thrillist’s roundup of Underrated Burger Chains That Need to Be in Every State.

Today, Habit has grown to nearly 400 restaurants across 15 states, along with 14 food trucks, continuing to serve bold, fresh flavors made to order. Learn more at www.habitburger.com.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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On an early spring evening in Glendale, a 37-year-old woman is withdrawn and weak from refusing food and water for several days. Her mother calls for help. She tells a crisis counselor her daughter has been hearing voices, and has expressed needing to “kill” those voices. She will not go to a doctor.

That’s when James Gonzalez and Katerina Cabello pull up. They’re in casual clothes – khakis and jeans, paired with sweatshirts. They sound no sirens in an unmarked white minivan.

Gonzalez and Cabello are one of 75 mobile crisis response teams Los Angeles County runs around the clock. Licensed and trained as first responders for behavioral health crises, these teams of two respond – in person, with backpacks and clipboards – to calls from 988, the crisis lifeline, or the county’s mental health helpline. Gonzalez and Cabello work for Sycamores, a nonprofit agency that contracts with the county.

Across California, demand for these teams – an alternative to badges and sirens for people in their darkest moments – is surging. But just as they’re proving their worth, federal funding that supercharged their growth is set to end. Lacking that boost, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget blueprint proposes changing the service from a required benefit to an optional one, meaning the state does not have to cover the funding gap.

Counties that choose to keep this service will have to pay for it themselves at a price tag of $150 million to $200 million a year. Where counties cannot afford it, crisis teams could decrease or disappear entirely, if the Legislature approves the governor’s budget proposal.

A boost in mobile crisis services

Convincing a person in crisis to accept help is a skill. You have minutes, sometimes less, to earn trust.

When Gonzalez walks into the living room of a client in crisis, he’ll quickly scan the room, looking for family photos, religious artifacts, trophies, anything that can help him connect. He has seen people in various stages of vulnerability: a woman who feels the world on her shoulders after leaving an abusive relationship; a teenage boy feeling so much anger he attacks his father.

Knowing when to be gentle and when to be stern is a skill, too. After more than an hour in Glendale, Gonzalez and Cabello got their client to drink some water and convinced her to go to a nearby hospital for IV fluids – once there she finally agreed to a psychiatric evaluation.

“Mental health can be kind of cruel,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve dealt with it as a parent. I don’t want our consumers to feel that. I want them to feel like we actually did something for them.”

Two days later, he and Cabello followed up on the Glendale call. The adult daughter did not meet the criteria to be placed on a psychiatric hold, but after the team shared treatment options and resources, the mother reported that she was eating and doing better.

From left, peer support specialist Katerina Cabello and clinician James Gonzalez with Sycamores’ mobile crisis outreach team in Altadena on April 27, 2026. Photo by Jules Hotz for CatchLight/CalMatters

When in-person help is necessary, teams meet people where they are – homes, schools, and workplaces – and serve everyone regardless of income or insurance status. Though the program started as a Medi-Cal benefit for low-income residents, teams also respond to the uninsured and those with private insurance – counties can bill private insurers for behavioral health emergencies.

In 2023, California made mobile crisis response a statewide benefit when a federal law offered a financial incentive to do so: the federal government would temporarily cover 85% of the costs, up from the usual 50%. At the time, people with mental health and substance use disorder made up one-fifth of all emergency department visits in California – a pressure point the state said mobile behavioral health teams could help address.

Mental health advocates and counties knew the extra federal money was temporary. What caught them off guard is what came next: Rather than cover the gap when the enhanced rate fell, the state plans to make the service optional, funding it only through March 2027 before shifting the burden to counties. “It did come as a surprise to us that this program was on the chopping block given kind of unanimous support,” said Tara Gamboa-Eastman, director of Government Affairs at the Steinberg Institute.

First: From left, Katerina Cabello and James Gonzalez review the details of a call from the Los Angeles County dispatch in Altadena on April 27, 2026. The pair review the information, begin paperwork and confirm whether a crisis response is needed. Last: Gonzalez and Cabello drive towards the location of a crisis call in the Los Angeles area on April 27, 2026. This particular call is approximately a 30-minute drive, but the team can get sent anywhere in the Los Angeles County area. Photo by Jules Hotz for CatchLight/CalMatters

State officials say the timing is unavoidable. The expiration of the enhanced federal match coincides with a projected state budget shortfall of nearly $3 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, and $22 billion the following year.

“The Administration has proposed redesigning this as an optional benefit, to be offered at counties’ discretion, as the most sustainable path for the program going forward,” said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the California Department of Finance.

State lawmakers who support preserving this service challenged the department in a recent hearing. “We’ve invested so much money into creating and uplifting an infrastructure to not fully continue with it,” Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a San Fernando Democrat said. “Is that a waste of our money?”

Counties weighing options

In San Joaquin County, when a young woman was in mental distress because she couldn’t afford her rent, the local crisis team visited her multiple times to stabilize her. They also helped her find affordable housing. “No other team can be as persistent as a mobile crisis team,” said Fay Vieira, San Joaquin County’s behavioral health services director.

The funding changes could force San Joaquin to revert to fewer teams available only from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Her biggest concern is losing credibility with a community the county has spent the last two years courting.

“We made vehicle purchases and put money into advertising,” Vieira said. “You can tell from our referral numbers that people are using this.” Crisis calls in the county have increased 15% this year compared to last, she said.

In Monterey County, the story is similar. The county started limited mobile crisis services in 2015 but struggled to grow them until the federal boost. “We had been trying to look at expanding for years because we saw the value,” said Melanie Rhodes, the county’s behavioral health director. “We saw the people we were helping.” Without continued funding, she said, the county could be forced to scale back.

Rural San Benito County rolled out its mobile crisis program just last year – it took officials there months to find an outside provider who could come in and offer the service. The program there is just starting to gain steam.

“We know that we cannot afford it without the federal dollars,” said Rachel White, San Benito County’s behavioral health director.

The pressure is hitting counties that are already absorbing other rising healthcare costs. Starting in July, counties will have to direct a third of their mental health budget toward housing chronically homeless people. In the coming year, they will also have to restart health programs for people who will lose their Medi-Cal coverage under rules related to the federal spending law President Trump signed in 2025.

Even for the state’s biggest county this is a pinch. Since the state mandate took effect just over two years ago, Los Angeles County has doubled its mobile crisis teams.

Officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health said they do not know yet if they’ll have to make cuts, but having to absorb the additional costs will stifle their plans to expand and better meet demand.

“It’s definitely going to hurt,” said Reuben Wilson, head of alternative crisis response at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “We’ve been trying to reduce our response time so we can get there quicker; law enforcement becomes more and more reliant on us. We’re really in a growth period, and it seems really premature to be pulling the support.”

A promising alternative for help

National research has shown that behavioral health professionals responding without police – like county crisis teams – do a better job than law enforcement of keeping people out of emergency rooms and connecting them to mental health care.

“Involving clinical teams in the community can prevent expensive emergency department care and get people connected to mental healthcare after the crisis incident is resolved,” one small-scale study of crisis response teams in Michigan found. A separate California analysis found that alternative crisis response programs reduced the number of unnecessary psychiatric holds.

A bulletin board with staff photos hangs in the office of Sycamores’ mobile crisis outreach team in Altadena on April 27, 2026. Photo by Jules Hotz for CatchLight/CalMatters

California’s own data is incomplete. Since January 2024 the Department of Health Care Services has approved more than 73,000 claims for in-person mobile crisis encounters through Medi-Cal alone – and because of typical claims lag, actual use is likely higher. Counties collect volume and some demographics data, but no statewide analysis of outcomes exists. That won’t be possible until the state begins collecting results data, something expected to start later this year.

As counties await the Governor’s final budget, the calls keep coming in.

Gonzalez and Cabello had not heard of the proposed funding change. They’re not sure what it would mean for Sycamores, or teams like theirs. What they do know is that people are hurting.

At one recent call, Gonzalez and Cabello found a dad and uncle restraining a 19-year-old man who had been experiencing outbursts of rage. Police responded first, but couldn’t resolve it. The situation called for help like Gonzalez and Cabello. They talked the young man down.

“Dad called and thanked us,” Gonzalez said. “He said no one has been able to help him like that.”

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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State Farm could face millions of dollars in penalties and a possible temporary suspension of its license in California as a result of hundreds of alleged law violations related to its handling of claims from the Los Angeles County fires last year.

California’s largest individual property insurance provider “showed a troubling pattern of claims handling practices” after the fires, the state’s Insurance Department said Monday. The department is seeking a hearing into the matter, which comes after an investigation it opened into State Farm’s conduct last June.

“Our investigation found that State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives,” said Ricardo Lara, the state’s insurance commissioner, in a statement.

State Farm did not immediately respond to CalMatters’ questions about the department’s legal action.

If an administrative law judge finds that the 430 claims have merit, each violation is subject to up to a $5,000 penalty. Willful violations of the law are subject to penalties of up to $10,000 each. That means the company could owe up to $4.3 million. Insurers have paid billions of dollars in claims from the deadly L.A.-area fires, with State Farm saying it has paid more than $5.7 billion so far.

The insurance department opened an investigation into State Farm, which insures about a fifth of California property owners, last year after complaints from fire survivors about the company delaying and denying claims.

The investigation, involving 220 claims related to the fires, found violations in 52% of them, according to the accusation filed by the department Monday. They included slow and inadequate claims investigations, underpayment, multiple claims adjusters assigned and delayed communication with policyholders. In some cases, the department asked State Farm to reopen claims and correct its violations, according to the accusation.

After a hearing, which has yet to be scheduled, any ruling by the administrative law judge will be reviewed by the commissioner. The commissioner will impose penalties and decide on whether to suspend for one year the company’s certificate of authority, which is what gives it the right to sell insurance in the state.

It’s unclear what would happen to State Farm’s customers if the company were to be suspended for a year, said Michael Soller, spokesperson for the insurance department, which has been trying to ensure that insurance companies continue to offer insurance coverage in California.

“Between the scope of the fires and the scope of this company, we’re in pretty unprecedented territory,” Soller said.