Star Insurance Company, part of AF Group, has filed a new Contract and Commercial Surety program in California with a requested effective date of April 15, 2026. The filing is currently in intake status with the California Department of Insurance.

The new program will provide miscellaneous, commercial contract, and fiduciary surety bonds for commercial accounts and individuals. Policy forms used under the program are established by statute or by the obligee, meaning the company will not introduce proprietary forms.

Rates will be developed using a structured rating plan that evaluates each account’s financial strength, credit quality, net worth, collateral, bond type, duration, and overall risk characteristics. The approach is designed to produce account-specific pricing that reflects the relative credit risk and exposure of each bonded obligation.

The filing does not propose an overall rate change and is expected to generate approximately $1 million in annual premium. Star indicated that, as a new program without its own historical experience, pricing relies on competitive benchmarks and established industry rating frameworks.

Similar filings have been introduced in other states.