HB 23-1174

House Bill 23-1174, which has been signed into law in Colorado, requires insurance companies to provide homeowners with more detailed information about the costs of rebuilding their homes and to offer higher coverage limits for certain types of insurance. Specifically, it increases notice periods for policy cancellations or renewals from 30 days to 60 days and mandates that insurers cover at least 50% of a home's reconstruction cost and provide law and ordinance coverage equal to 20% of the dwelling limit. The bill also requires the state insurance commissioner to publish an annual report on home rebuilding costs in Colorado. Parts of this bill will take effect starting August 7, 2023, while other provisions won't be implemented until January 1, 2025. This law aims to protect homeowners by ensuring they have adequate coverage and are well-informed about their insurance policies.

Official Summary

The act requires the commissioner of insurance (commissioner) to prepare an annual report on the cost of reconstructing homes in Colorado. Current law prohibits an insurer from canceling or refusing to renew a policy of homeowner's insurance unless the insurer mails notice to the insured at least 30 days in advance of the effective date of the cancellation of or refusal to renew the policy. The act increases the notice requirement to 60 days in advance of the action. The act specifies the factors an insurer must consider when determining the reconstruction costs of a dwelling and requires insurers to disclose certain information regarding the replacement costs before issuing or renewing a homeowner's insurance policy. Current law requires an insurer to offer an applicant extended replacement cost and law and ordinance coverage before issuing or renewing certain replacement cost homeowner's insurance policies. The act requires the coverage to be: Equal to 20% of the limit of insurance for the dwelling for law and ordinance coverage (changed from 10%); and At least 50% of the limit of the insurance for the dwelling for extended replacement cost coverage (changed from 20%). To implement the act: $109, 955 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies for use by the division of insurance; and $38,066 is appropriated to the department of law. APPROVED by Governor May 12, 2023 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 PORTIONS EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die; except that, section 10-4-110.8 (8), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended in section 3 of the act, takes effect January 1, 2025. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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