SB752 amends Hawaii’s property insurance notice rules to give residential policyholders more time before a cancellation takes effect. For most cancellations of property insurance on property used for residential purposes, including multi-family residential property, an insurer must provide written notice at least 20 days before the effective date of cancellation, instead of the current 10 days. The bill keeps a 10-day notice period for cancellations based on nonpayment of premium or material misrepresentation, and it retains the 30-day notice period for nonrenewals.
The bill is framed as a consumer-protection measure responding to Hawaii’s property-casualty insurance market. The legislature states that a longer notice period will help policyholders find replacement coverage, reduce disruption, and create clearer expectations between insurers and insureds. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and includes standard provisions preserving existing rights and avoiding unconstitutional impairment of existing contracts.
Impact
The bill amends section 431:10-226.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, governing notice of cancellation and nonrenewal for property insurance. Its main legal effect is to create a special notice rule for residential property insurance policies, including multi-family residential properties, while leaving the general 10-day cancellation notice rule in place for other property insurance policies. It also preserves the existing 30-day nonrenewal notice requirement and requires evidence of mailing for cancellation or nonrenewal notices to be valid. Insurers writing residential property coverage in Hawaii will need to adjust cancellation procedures and notice timelines beginning January 1, 2026.
Sentiment
The available legislative history shows strong support and little visible opposition. The bill passed the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee unanimously, and later passed both the House and Senate conference committees unanimously as well. The committee and floor record provided does not include recorded objections, suggesting broad agreement that the measure is a consumer-protection response to current market conditions.
Contention
The main policy tension is between consumer protection and insurer operational flexibility. Supporters emphasize that homeowners and multi-family residential policyholders need more time to secure alternative coverage if a policy is canceled, especially in a difficult property insurance market. The bill also reflects concern that the existing 10-day notice period is too short to be practical. The only explicit carveout that may have drawn attention is the continued 10-day notice period for cancellations due to nonpayment or material misrepresentation, which preserves a faster process for those situations while extending notice for other cancellations.