The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5278 mandates that the state provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for employees of the Department of Transportation. This coverage, which is to be included under the State Fleet Insurance Policy, must have limits for bodily injury or death of no less than one million dollars. The coverage is intended to protect employees who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured or underinsured vehicles due to bodily injuries, including fatalities, that occur while the employee is required to be outside of a motor vehicle during the course of their employment.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and requires the implementation of this coverage by July 1, 2027. The proposed legal language includes a new section that outlines these requirements, while there are no deletions from current law specified in the text. The primary purpose of the bill is to enhance the safety and protection of Department of Transportation employees in the event of accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists.