The bill amends Section 27-9-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-9, titled "Casualty Insurance Rating," to introduce new considerations for establishing insurance rates and to enhance protections for certain groups of insured individuals. Key insertions include provisions that prohibit insurance companies from considering losses or incidents involving bus drivers, law enforcement officers, and commercial vehicle drivers while they are on duty when determining rates for personal motor vehicles. Additionally, the bill mandates that widowed individuals be treated the same as married individuals in terms of insurance rates, and it protects seniors aged 65 and older from being penalized solely based on their age if they have a clean driving record for the past three years.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a significant change by prohibiting insurance companies from using the zip code of an insured individual’s residence when calculating their motor vehicle liability insurance premiums. This aims to eliminate potential discrimination based on geographic location. Other provisions include restrictions on premium surcharges related to fault in accidents, limits on surcharges for minor property damage claims, and protections for volunteer drivers. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5104: 27-9-4