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.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Friday he has "provisionally" approved State Farm's rate hike of 22% as the company reports dealing with financial struggles stemming from the Los Angeles wildfires.

State Farm says the steep hike on homeowners is necessary to shore up its cash reserves in the event of another catastrophe. The insurer has said it expects to pay out about $7.6 billion in claims related to the Los Angeles wildfires, although reinsurance will lower its losses to about $612 million.