HB 23-1004

House Bill 23-1004, also known as the Language Access in Insurance Documents bill, requires insurance companies to provide policies and related documents in languages other than English if they advertised those policies in non-English languages. The insurer must ensure that these translations are accurate by using certified or qualified translators. This law will help non-English speaking individuals better understand their insurance coverage. It becomes effective on January 1, 2024, after being signed into law by the governor on April 11, 2023.

Official Summary

Current law allows insurance policies to be translated to and issued in a language other than English if the insurer certifies that the English-language policy that is translated complies with state insurance laws. Section 1 of the act requires the insurer to also certify that the policy has been correctly translated by a certified translator or, if a certified translator is not available to translate the policy to the particular language, by a qualified translator who certifies that the translation is correct. Section 2 requires insurers that issue commercial or personal automobile, homeowners', or renters' insurance policies to offer, make available, and issue the policy application, the policy, and related documents and forms in the same language that the insurer used in advertisements for the policy and to offer an applicant a form to select the applicant's language of choice for those documents. Section 2 also specifies remedies for an insurer's failure to comply with this requirement. APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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