EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1148*
HOUSE BILL 1148
C4 5lr3090
By: Delegates Wivell, Baker, Hinebaugh, and Valentine
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Property and Casualty Homeowner’s and Renter’s Insurance – Lapses in 2
Coverage – Prohibition on Denial 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a property and casualty an insurer, with respect to 4
homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance, from denying coverage based on a prior 5
lapse in coverage of the applicant under certain circumstances; authorizing a 6
property and casualty insurer to require an applicant to submit a certain affidavit; 7
and generally relating to property and casualty homeowner’s and renter’s insurance. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Insurance 10
Section 27–501(u) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Insurance 16
27–501. 17
(U) (1) WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY AND CASUALT Y HOMEOWNER ’S 18
INSURANCE OR RENTER ’S INSURANCE, AN INSURER MAY NOT D ENY COVERAGE 19 2 HOUSE BILL 1148
BASED ON A PRIOR LAP SE IN COVERAGE OF TH E APPLICANT IF THE L APSE IN 1
COVERAGE WAS : 2
(1) (I) DUE TO THE CHOICE OF THE APPLICANT ; AND 3
(2) (II) NOT DUE TO LOSSES IN CURRED BY OR THE CLA IMS HISTORY 4
OF THE APPLICAN T. 5
(2) AN INSURER MAY REQUIR E THAT AN APPLICANT SUBMIT AN 6
AFFIDAVIT STATING TH AT THE APPLICANT DID NOT INCUR A LOSS DUR ING THE 7
PRIOR LAPSE IN COVER AGE. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2025. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.