The State Farm unit then appealed to Lara for an emergency 22% hike and threatened to leave the state. After quick hearings, an insurance department judge found that 72% of the er

Following a judge's ruling Monday, State Farm customers in California are one step away from paying more on their homeowners insurance to alleviate what the company described as a "dire" financial situation in the wake of the Los Angeles-area wildfires.

The state of California approved State Farm's request for an emergency 17% increase in homeowners insurance rates as the company deals with financial challenges after the Los Angeles wildfires.