The bill amends and recodifies existing laws related to motor vehicle glass repair claims in Washington State, establishing a new chapter in Title 48 RCW. It introduces several definitions pertinent to the chapter, including terms like "advanced driver assistance system," "motor vehicle glass repair shop," and "insured." The bill prohibits insured individuals from assigning their rights or benefits under an insurance policy to another person and mandates that motor vehicle glass repair shops notify insured individuals about the presence of advanced driver assistance systems in their vehicles, as well as the need for calibration or recalibration after repairs. Additionally, it requires repair shops to provide good faith estimates of costs and itemized invoices upon completion of services.

Furthermore, the bill imposes strict regulations on motor vehicle glass repair shops, prohibiting them from offering incentives for directing claims, charging unreasonable fees, or submitting false information related to repairs. It ensures that insured individuals have the right to choose any motor vehicle glass repair shop for their repairs without being coerced into using a specific facility. The bill also allows the insurance commissioner to adopt necessary rules for implementation and establishes that the new regulations will apply to insurance policies issued or renewed after the effective date of the act, which is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 48.30.340