Enhancing consumer protections for automobile insurance coverage.



ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5721

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senators Stanford, Valdez, Hasegawa, Riccelli, Alvarado, Nobles, Orwall, Slatter, Trudeau, and Wellman

Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade.

AN ACT Relating to enhancing consumer protections for automobile insurance coverage; and adding a new section to chapter 48.18 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 48.18 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Every automobile insurance policy that includes first-party coverage for physical damage issued or renewed effective on or after January 1, 2026, must include a provision for the right to an appraisal to resolve disputes between the insurer and the insured regarding the actual cash value and amount of loss on the damaged automobile. The appraisal clause must include the following language, or corresponding language that the insurer certifies is at least as favorable to the insured: