In June, State Farm asked the department to raise its prices for home policies by an average of 30%. Under California law, companies must have rate increases for home, auto and other policies approved before they go into effect. That request was pending when State Farm made the emergency request, and it remains unresolved.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara decided Friday to provisionally grant State Farm General's request for a 22% hike in its homeowner insurance rates pending a formal rate hearing next month.