BILL AS INTRODUCED H.536
2024 Page 1 of 2
1 H.536
2 Introduced by Representatives Rice of Dorset, Cole of Hartford, Krasnow of
3 South Burlington, Priestley of Bradford, Stone of Burlington,
4 Toof of St. Albans Town, and Williams of Barre City
5 Referred to Committee on
6 Date:
7 Subject: Insurance; homeowners; dog breed; discrimination prohibited
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit
9 insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners based solely on
10 the presence of one or more domestic dogs of a specific breed or mixture of
11 breeds.
12 An act relating to homeowners’ insurance and dog breed discrimination
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. 8 V.S.A. § 4724 is amended to read:
15 § 4724. UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION OR UNFAIR OR
16 DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES DEFINED
17 The following are hereby defined as unfair methods of competition or unfair
18 or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance:
19 ***
20 (7) Unfair discrimination; arbitrary underwriting action.
VT LEG #372165 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.536
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2 (G)(i) Making or permitting any unfair discrimination against a
3 homeowner in regard to a homeowners’ insurance policy or contract by
4 conditioning rates or the provision or renewal of coverage, or by imposing
5 other conditions of insurance based solely upon the presence of one or more
6 domestic dogs of a specific breed or mixture of breeds.
7 (ii) This subdivision (G) shall not prohibit an insurer from
8 refusing to issue or renew, from cancelling a contract or policy, or from
9 imposing an increased rate for a contract or policy if a specific dog has a
10 documented history of causing significant damage to real or personal property
11 or serious bodily injury to a person.
12 (iii) Any action permitted under subdivision (ii) of this subdivision
13 (G) shall be based on sound underwriting and actuarial principles reasonably
14 related to actual or anticipated loss experience.
15 ***
16 Sec. 2. APPLICATION
17 This act shall apply to all policies offered, issued, amended, or renewed on
18 or after July 1, 2024.
19 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
20 This act shall take effect on passage.
VT LEG #372165 v.1


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 8-4724