Amy Boss — Amy Boss, vice president of NetChoice, introduced herself and began her testimony for the panel.
Max Martin — Named as part of the next panel, though no testimony from him appears in this section.
Max Martin — Introduces himself as representing the Association of Washington Business and says he will discuss industry protections for child online safety.
Judy Warnick — Senator Judy Warnick is introduced as present and as a sponsor of SB 5928, then presents the bill and explains that it responds to wildfire insurance problems affecting constituents, including lost coverage and steep premium increases. She says the bill incorporates work group recommendations, aims to start a broader conversation about insurance risk models and mitigation, and is informed by experiences in other states such as Colorado and Montana. She emphasizes that the proposal is intended to help consumers while also giving insurers more clarity and fairness, and she closes by inviting questions. The discussion ends with members thanking her for her leadership and for describing wildfire impacts in eastern Washington.
Judy Warnick — The witness thanks the committee for the opportunity to testify, acknowledges Senator Kaufman/Chairperson Kaufman and Vice Chair Cortez, thanks Senator Warnick for sponsoring the bill, and responds to a request to provide the key points in writing.
Judy Warnick — Judy Warnick is referenced in the course of the bill discussion, first as the chair being addressed and later as a senator the witness hopes to work with on the bill.
Shelly Short — Senator Short is repeatedly referenced as a co-sponsor of SB 5928 with Senator Warnick and as someone who also hears from constituents about insurance losses and rising premiums. The discussion then thanks Senator Short and Senator Warnick for sponsoring the insurance commissioner's requested legislation.
Shelly Short — Senator Shelley Short was identified as the witness's district senator who added onto the bill, and she later asked during the Wildfire Mitigation Committee work group why fire districts were not included in the insurance industry discussion.
Shelly Short — Named as the prime sponsor the witness hopes to work with to expand the bill to commercial lines.
SB5928 — The committee begins the public hearing on SB 5928.
SB5928 — The witness stated support for the bill.
SB5928 — The testimony tied the work group recommendations to the bill's disclosure approach.
SB5928 — Described as establishing disclosure standards and consumer appeal rights related to wildfire risk scores.
SB5928 — Described as improving transparency and helping consumers mitigate wildfire risk.
SB5928 — Characterized as increasing transparency and accountability while protecting trade secrets.
SB5928 — The witness stated opposition to the bill.
SB5928 — Characterized as the wrong bill for improving affordability and availability of insurance.
SB5928 — Warned that implementation could push insurers away from wildfire scoring and increase costs.
SB5928 — Witness said the council shares concerns previously raised in opposition to the bill.
SB5928 — The legislation is described as starting a critical conversation about consumer information on wildfire risk scores.
SB5928 — The bill is described as reflecting concerns raised in work group meetings and by affected property owners and policyholders.
SB5928 — Referenced as containing provisions similar to measures enacted or being implemented in other states.
SB5928 — The speaker suggests narrowing the bill's scope and limiting regulatory burden.
SB5928 — The speaker wants amendments to make the bill more workable.
SB5928 — The association is signed in as other on the bill and wants to outline its position.
SB5928 — The association wants the bill aligned with national best practices.
SB5928 — Discussed as reflecting policy approaches from other states.
SB5928 — Specific requested changes include narrowing the bill to rate setting and removing underwriting inclusion.
SB5928 — The association seeks amendments before inclusion in the bill.
SB5928 — The committee is discussing key points and requested written follow-up on the bill.
SB5928 — The chair asks for more clarity on the bill's underwriting provisions.
SB5928 — Witness testifies in favor of the bill.
SB5928 — The witness says the bill favors transparency.
SB5928 — Described as including community-level mitigation actions, rating factors, and local fire protection efforts.
SB5928 — Public testimony on Senate Bill 5928 largely supports the bill as a wildfire-risk and insurance-transparency measure. Witnesses say it would help homeowners and property owners by improving disclosure, providing guidance to reduce wildfire risk, creating a process to challenge risk scores and classifications, and potentially lowering insurance costs. One witness notes the bill appears to focus on personal homeowners insurance and asks that commercial lines, especially for hospitality businesses, also be included. The chair then closes public comment on the bill, noting the testimony may inform the legislation.
SB5928 — SB 5928, sponsored by Senators Warnick and Short, is discussed as a bill aimed at improving transparency and regulation around insurers’ use of wildfire risk scores, risk classifications, wildfire risk models, and catastrophe models. The bill would require insurers to provide disclosures and notices within specified timelines when using these tools in underwriting or rating, include certain information in rate filings to the OIC, and account for property-specific and community-level mitigation actions. It also requires discounts or incentives if mitigation is not incorporated into models, and makes related risk-model filing information confidential while requiring insurers to post discount and incentive information online.
SB5928 — The speaker described SB 5928 as a measure that would help Washingtonians benefit from climate-resilient investments by making insurance more affordable and available. The discussion continued by emphasizing that the bill could address rising non-renewal rates and improve insurance access, with Colorado cited as a model. The speaker concluded that SB 5928’s wildfire risk transparency requirements are a step toward a broader collective resilience approach.
SB5928 — The witness urges support for the bill and suggests similar mechanisms for flooding and windstorms.
Julio Cortes — Vice Chair Julio Cortes takes over the hearing from the chair, then explains that the committee has about 70 minutes to hear 12 testifiers, outlines the testimony process and time limits, and calls the first panel.
David Forte — David Forte is introduced as the first panel witness from the Office of Insurance Commissioner and identified as the first witness to testify.
Honorable Patrick Toneskitt — Named as a witness from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, appearing by Zoom.
Michael Moran — Named as another witness with the Confederated Tribes.
David Ford — Testifies in support of Senate Bill 5928 and provides background on wildfire risk models and scores.
unknown witness — Testified that wildfire risk models should account for local mitigation efforts by fire districts and property owners, and asked for support for the bill.
Patrick Toneskett — Was called to testify next and was asked to turn on his microphone.
Patrick Tanaskett / Patrick Toneskett (questionable spelling) — Testified in support of Senate Bill 5928 on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Brandon Vick — Brandon Vick of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is introduced as the next panel witness and then testifies in opposition to the bill, identifying himself as the regional vice president and registering the organization’s opposition.
Kenton Bryan — Kenton Bryan of the Northwest Insurance Council was introduced as a witness and then gave formal testimony as president of the nonprofit insurance trade association, describing its role in providing property and casualty insurance information in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho while continuing opposition testimony.
Christine Brewer — Introduced as a witness from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Christine Brewer — Testifies on behalf of the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association.