An Act Requiring The Insurance Commissioner To Conduct A Study Of Flood Insurance Coverage Options For Owners Of Residential Or Commercial Property.
Summary
SB 1385 requires the Connecticut Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study of flood insurance coverage options for owners of residential and commercial property in the state. The study must also evaluate ways to increase access to, and awareness of, those coverage options. The commissioner must submit a report of the findings to the legislature’s insurance committee by February 1, 2026.
The bill does not itself change flood insurance requirements, create a new insurance program, or mandate coverage. Instead, it directs the executive branch to gather information and make recommendations about the availability of flood insurance for property owners, with the apparent goal of informing future policy decisions. The measure is effective upon passage and adds a new section to the general statutes.
Impact
This bill creates a new statutory duty for the Insurance Commissioner to study flood insurance coverage options and report findings to the General Assembly. It does not amend existing insurance coverage mandates or directly regulate insurers, but it does place flood insurance access and consumer awareness within the commissioner’s formal responsibilities. The affected parties are primarily residential and commercial property owners, insurers offering flood policies, and policymakers who may use the report to consider future legislation or market interventions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and little opposition. It received a unanimous 13-0 joint favorable vote in the Insurance Committee and later passed the Senate 35-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement. The available record shows no committee transcript debate, suggesting the measure was noncontroversial and viewed as a study-oriented, informational step rather than a substantive policy change.
Contention
No major points of contention are evident in the available materials. Because the bill only requires a study and report, there is no recorded disagreement over mandates, costs, or insurer obligations. Any potential concern would likely center on whether the study leads to future regulation or market changes, but no such objections appear in the vote history or bill text provided.