2026 -- H 7478

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LC004091

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- HOMEOWNER CASUALTY INSURANCE BILL OF

RIGHTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Azzinaro, J. Lombardi, Biah, Slater, Fogarty,
Fellela, and Santucci

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2026

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled "INSURANCE" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 8.4

HOMEOWNER CASUALTY INSURANCE BILL OF RIGHTS

     27-8.4-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Homeowner Casualty Insurance Bill

of Rights".

     27-8.4-2. Legislative purpose.

     It is the purpose of this chapter to summarize, in simple, nontechnical terms, existing Rhode

Island law regarding the rights of a personal residential property insurance policyholder who files

a claim of loss.

     27-8.4-3. Timely submission.

     An insurer, issuing a homeowner's residential property casualty insurance policy in this

state, shall provide a homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights notice to a policyholder within

fourteen (14) days after receiving an initial communication with respect to a claim, unless the claim

follows an event that is the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the governor.

     27-8.4-4. Limitation of policyholder’s rights.

     (a) The homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights is specific to the claims process and

does not represent all of a policyholder’s rights under Rhode Island law regarding the insurance

policy;

     (b) The homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights does not create a civil cause of action

by any individual policyholder or class of policyholders against an insurer or insurers; and

     (c) The homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights does not enlarge, modify, or

contravene statutory requirements, and does not prohibit an insurer from exercising its right to

repair damaged property in compliance with the terms of an applicable policy.

     27-8.4-5. Statutory form of the homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights.

     The homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights shall state the following:

HOMEOWNER CASUALTY INSURANCE BILL OF RIGHTS

     This Bill of Rights is specific to the claims process and does not represent all of your rights

under Rhode Island law regarding your policy. There are also exceptions to the stated timelines

when conditions are beyond your insurance company’s control. This document does not create a

civil cause of action by an individual policyholder, or a class of policyholders, against an insurer

or insurers and does not prohibit an insurer from exercising its right to repair damaged property in

compliance with the terms of an applicable policy.

     YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

     1. Receive from your insurance company an acknowledgment of your reported claim

within fourteen (14) days after the time you communicated the claim.

     2. Upon written request, receive from your insurance company within twenty (20) days

after you have submitted a complete proof-of-loss statement to your insurance company

confirmation that your claim is being investigated.

     3. Within thirty (30) days, receive full settlement payment for your claim or payment of

the undisputed portion of your claim, or your insurance company’s denial of your claim.

     4. Contact the Rhode Island department of business regulation, insurance division, with

any insurance claim or questions pertaining to the handling of your claim. You can seek assistance

by phone at (401) 462-9520 or online at the Rhode Island department of business regulation,

insurance division website at https://dbr.ri.gov./insurance.

     YOU ARE ADVISED TO:

     1. Contact your insurance company before entering into any contract for repairs to confirm

any managed repair policy provisions or optional preferred vendors.

     2. Make and document emergency repairs that are necessary to prevent further damage.

Keep the damaged property, if feasible, keep all receipts, and take photographs of damage before

and after any repairs.

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     3. Carefully read any contract that requires you to pay out-of-pocket expenses or a fee that

is based on a percentage of the insurance proceeds that you will receive for repairing or replacing

your property.

     4. Confirm that the contractor you choose is licensed to do business in Rhode Island. You

can verify a contractor’s license and check to see if there are any complaints against the contractor

by searching online through the Rhode Island contractors’ registration and licensing board at their

website, https://crb.ri.gov/search/contractor-search. You should also ask the contractor for

references from previous work.

     5. Require all contractors to provide proof of insurance before beginning repairs.

     6. Take precautions if the damage requires you to leave your home, including securing your

property and turning off your gas, water, and electricity, contacting your insurance company and

providing a phone number where you can be reached.

     27-8.4-6. Penalty.

     The failure of an insurer to properly deliver the homeowner casualty insurance bill of rights

may result in a penalty to be determined by the director of the department of business regulation,

insurance division but is not admissible as evidence in a civil action against an insurer.

     27-8.4-7. Severability.

     If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any

court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that judgment shall not

affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its operation to

the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that

judgment shall have been rendered.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- HOMEOWNER CASUALTY INSURANCE BILL OF

RIGHTS

***

     This act would create a homeowner casualty bill of rights that would summarize, in simple,

nontechnical terms, Rhode Island law regarding the rights of a personal residential property

insurance policyholder who files a claim of loss. The act would require the insurance company to

utilize specific language in acknowledging the receipt of a reported claim within fourteen (14) days

but would not impact any cause of action by a policyholder.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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