CHAPTER 331
HB 1259 - FINAL VERSION
28Mar2024... 0762h
13Jun2024... 2242CofC
2024 SESSION
24-2261
05/10
HOUSE BILL 1259
AN ACT relative to property and casualty insurance laws administered by the insurance department.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hunt, Ches. 14
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies the distinction between personal and commercial lines in homeowners policies; permits the use of electronic communication for auditable basis policies; requires the insurer to state the specific reason for cancellation or refusal to renew a policy; and provides an exemption to the insurance claims adjusters statute for persons who solely handle automobile glass claims.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
28Mar2024... 0762h
13Jun2024... 2242CofC 24-2261
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to property and casualty insurance laws administered by the insurance department.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
331:1 Regulation of Forms and Rates for Property and Casualty Insurance; Definition of Personal Risk; Distinction Between Personal and Commercial Lines. Amend RSA 412:3, XV to read as follows:
XV. "Personal risk" means homeowners, [including dwelling insurance for owner-occupied one to 4 family buildings,] tenants, private passenger [non-fleet automobiles on a personal] automobile policy, [mobile homes] and other property and casualty insurance for personal, family or household needs. This includes any property and casualty insurance that is otherwise intended for non-commercial coverage.
331:2 Regulation of Forms and Rates for Property and Casualty Insurance; Auditable Basis Policies. Amend RSA 412:35, II to read as follows:
II. Audits shall be conducted by either physical inspection of an insured's records and operations, or by telephone, [or] mail, [request] electronic communication or by virtual means as requested by the insurer to the insured.
331:3 Cancellation, Refusal to Write, Renew; Application of Chapter. Amend RSA 417-B:1 to read as follows:
417-B:1 Application of Chapter. This chapter shall apply to policies of insurance other than automobile insurance and workers' compensation insurance on personal, family, and household risks located or residents in this state which insure any of the following contingencies:
I. Loss of or damage to real property [which is used solely for residential purposes, which is owner occupied, and which consists of not more than 4 dwelling units].
II. Loss of or damage to personal property [owned by natural persons except personal property used in the conduct of a commercial or industrial enterprise].
III. Legal liability of a [natural] person or persons for loss of, damage to, or injury to, persons or property[, but not including policies primarily insuring risks arising from the conduct of a commercial or industrial enterprise].
331:4 Cancellation; Refusal to Renew; Notice. Amend RSA 417-B:4, II to read as follows:
II. State the specific reason or reasons of the insurer for cancellation or refusal to renew [or be accompanied by a statement that upon written request of the named insured, mailed or delivered to the insurer not less than 10 days prior to the effective date of cancellation or refusal to renew, the insurer will specify the reason or reasons for such cancellation, or refusal to renew. The insurer shall supply such information within 5 days of receipt by it of such request].
331:5 New Subparagraph; Insurance Claims Adjusters; Definitions; Exemptions. Amend RSA 402-B:2, III by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:
(f) A person who solely investigates, negotiates, settles, or completes a first notice of loss form for automobile glass replacement or repair claims.
331:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.
Approved: August 02, 2024
Effective Date: January 01, 2025
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 18, 2024 | 2024-0762h |
| May 23, 2024 | 2024-2164s |
| June 5, 2024 | 2024-2242CofC |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| March 13, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| March 13, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 23, 2024 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 23, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 22, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 13, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 13, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 13, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
Aug. 7, 2024: Signed by Governor Sununu 08/02/2024; Chapter 331; eff. 01/01/2025 HJ 16
July 23, 2024: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/13/2024 HJ 16 P. 56
July 18, 2024: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/13/2024); SJ 18
June 13, 2024: Conference Committee Report 2024-2242c: Adopted, VV 06/13/2024 HJ 16 P. 25
June 13, 2024: Conference Committee Report # 2024-2242c, Adopted, VV; 06/13/2024; SJ 17
June 6, 2024: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2024-2242c; 06/13/2024
June 4, 2024: Conference Committee Meeting: 06/04/2024 02:30 pm LOB 302-304
May 30, 2024: President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Innis, Soucy; 05/30/2024; SJ 16
May 30, 2024: Sen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 05/30/2024; SJ 16
May 29, 2024: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2024-2164s and Requests CofC (Reps. Hunt, Burroughs, Ammon, Grassie): MA VV 05/29/2024 HJ 14 P. 179
May 23, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-2164s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/23/2024; SJ 15
May 23, 2024: Sen. Bradley Floor Amendment # 2024-2164s, AA, VV; 05/23/2024; SJ 15
May 22, 2024: Special Order to the end of the calendar on 05/23/2024, Without Objection, MA; 05/22/2024; SJ 14
May 22, 2024: Sen. Bradley Moved to Remove HB 1259 from the Consent Calendar; 05/22/2024; SJ 14
May 15, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/22/2024; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 20
April 17, 2024: Hearing: 04/23/2024, Room 100, SH, 10:50 am; SC 16
April 2, 2024: Introduced 03/21/2024 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 8
March 28, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-0762h: MA VV 03/28/2024 HJ 10 P. 11
March 28, 2024: Amendment # 2024-0762h: AA VV 03/28/2024 HJ 10 P. 11
March 18, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2024-0762h 03/13/2024 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 12 P. 6
March 7, 2024: Executive Session: 03/13/2024 10:00 am LOB 302-304
Feb. 14, 2024: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/20/2024 10:00 am LOB 305
Feb. 7, 2024: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2024 10:00 am LOB 302-304
Jan. 31, 2024: Public Hearing: 02/07/2024 10:30 am LOB 302-304
Dec. 1, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs