On Friday, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara signaled his willingness to allow State Farm to raise homeowner rates by an average of 22%. He also granted the state’s largest insurer initial approval to increase premiums by 15% for renters and condo owners and 33% for rental owners.

California’s insurance commissioner said his approval was conditioned on State Farm justifying its need for the increase by bringing data to a public hearing on April 8.

California's top insurance regulator on Friday said he would approve an emergency request by State Farm to raise premiums 22% on home insurance for about a million customers if the insurance giant could justify the hike at a public hearing.