House Bill No. 5278 mandates that the state provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for employees of the Department of Transportation (DOT) under the State Fleet Insurance Policy, effective July 1, 2027. The coverage must include limits for bodily injury or death of no less than one million dollars and is intended to protect employees who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured or underinsured vehicles while they are outside of a motor vehicle during the course of their employment.

The bill introduces new legal language specifying the requirements for this coverage, while no existing legal language is deleted. The fiscal impact of this legislation is estimated to cost between $700,000 and $1,700,000 annually, depending on the frequency and severity of accidents involving DOT employees. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.