Pennsylvania House Bill HB893

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/13/25
• Refer: 3/13/25

Caption

In financial responsibility, further providing for rates.

Summary

HB 893 amends Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code provisions on motor vehicle financial responsibility rates. The bill adds a new rule to Section 1799.7 stating that, for private passenger motor vehicle insurance policies written, delivered, or renewed on or after the effective date, a widowed person may not be treated differently than a married person when an insurer establishes or maintains the insured’s rate or classification for operating a private passenger vehicle. In practical terms, the bill would prohibit insurers from using widowhood status as a basis for charging different premiums or assigning different classifications than those applied to married policyholders. The change applies only to private passenger motor vehicle insurance and would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

The bill would amend Title 75, Section 1799.7, by adding a new anti-discrimination provision for insurance rating practices. It would affect auto insurers operating in Pennsylvania by limiting how they may classify or rate widowed policyholders in private passenger motor vehicle policies, aligning widowed persons with married persons for rating purposes. The measure does not appear to create a new insurance program or mandate coverage, but instead narrows permissible underwriting and rating distinctions under state law.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and sponsorship, the measure appears to be a targeted consumer-protection bill intended to prevent adverse treatment of widowed drivers in auto insurance pricing. The listed sponsors suggest at least some bipartisan or cross-member interest in the proposal, but the overall sentiment in the record provided is neutral due to the absence of discussion or voting history.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is whether widowhood should be treated as a prohibited rating factor in auto insurance and whether insurers should be restricted from using marital-status-related classifications beyond existing law. Supporters would likely frame the bill as preventing unfair discrimination against widowed individuals, while insurers or critics could question whether the restriction limits actuarial flexibility or creates an exception that should be extended to other personal-status categories. No specific objections or amendments are documented in the materials provided.