The bill amends Section 27-7-2.1 of the General Laws regarding uninsured motorist coverage in liability insurance policies. It mandates that no policy for motor vehicles registered or principally garaged in the state can be issued without including coverage for bodily injury or death resulting from accidents involving uninsured or hit-and-run vehicles. The coverage must be at least equal to the insured's bodily injury liability limits. The bill removes the option for named insureds to reject uninsured motorist coverage for property damage if they have collision coverage.

The act clarifies that coverage applies in cases where the responsible party's insurance is insolvent at the time of the accident. It establishes a $200 deductible for property damage claims and outlines the process for subrogation rights for insurers. The definition of uninsured motorist is expanded to include underinsured motorists, and it allows insured individuals to collect the aggregate amount of coverage for multiple vehicles insured under the same policy.

The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and will apply to new or renewed insurance policies issued after that date.

Statutes affected:
3195: 27-7-2.1