SB2947 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 19637 BAB 33086 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2947

Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 5/143.17	from Ch. 73, par. 755.17
215 ILCS 5/Art. XLVIII heading new
215 ILCS 5/1801 new
215 ILCS 5/1802 new
215 ILCS 5/1803 new
215 ILCS 5/1804 new
215 ILCS 5/1805 new

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions regarding the notice of intention not to renew a policy of insurance, provides that no company may impose renewal premium increases of more than 10% for policies of fire and extended coverage insurance that are subject to certain cancellation requirements, unless the company mails or delivers by electronic means to the named insured notice of the increase in renewal premium at least 60 days before the policy renewal or anniversary date. Creates the Rates for Fire and Extended Coverage Insurance Article. Contains provisions concerning the purpose and applicability of the Article. Prohibits rates from being excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, as specified. Sets forth provisions concerning determinations and notice from the Department of Insurance and hearings on the notice. Provides that credible State-specific loss experience shall be used in the development of rates whenever that data is available and statistically reliable. Authorizes insurers, in order to meet actuarial standards of credibility, to supplement State-specific loss experience with countrywide, regional, or out-of-state loss experience. Effective January 1, 2027.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by changing Section 143.17 and by adding Article XLVIII as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/143.17) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.17)

Sec. 143.17. Notice of intention not to renew.

a. No company shall fail to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13, to which Section 143.11 applies, unless it shall send by mail to the named insured at least 30 days advance notice of its intention not to renew. The company shall maintain proof of mailing of such notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U. S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. The nonrenewal shall not become effective until at least 30 days from the proof of mailing date of the notice to the name insured. Notification shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record, if known, and to the last known mortgagee or lien holder. For purposes of this Section, the mortgagee or lien holder, insured's broker, or the agent of record may opt to accept notification electronically. However, where cancellation is for nonpayment of premium, the notice of cancellation must be mailed at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation.

b. This Section does not apply if the company has manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. Such written notice shall specify the premium amount payable, including any premium payment plan available, and the name of any person or persons, if any, authorized to receive payment on behalf of the company. If no person is so authorized, the premium notice shall so state.

b-5. This Section does not apply if the company manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. However, no company may impose renewal premium increases of more than 10% for lines of business enumerated in subsection (b) of Section 143.13 to which Section 143.11 applies unless the company mails or delivers by electronic means, in compliance with Section 143.34, to the named insured notice of the increase in renewal premium at least 60 days before the renewal or anniversary date. No no company may impose changes in deductibles or coverage for any policy forms applicable to an entire line of business enumerated in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13 to which Section 143.11 applies unless the company mails or delivers by electronic means, in compliance with Section 143.34, to the named insured written notice of the change in deductible or coverage at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date. For purposes of this subsection, "lines of business enumerated in subsection (b) of Section 143.13 to which Section 143.11 applies" does not include lines of business excluded under paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of Section 1802.

Notice shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record. For purposes of this subsection b-5, policyholder-initiated changes to coverage and exposure changes are not included in the renewal premium increases that require a company to provide notice to the insured.

c. Should a company fail to comply with (a) or (b) of this Section, the policy shall terminate only on the effective date of any similar insurance procured by the insured with respect to the same subject or location designated in both policies.

d. Renewal of a policy does not constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation which existed before the effective date of such renewal.

e. In all notices of intention not to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in Section 143.11 the company shall provide the named insured a specific explanation of the reasons for nonrenewal.

f. For purposes of this Section, the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record and the mortgagee or lien holder may opt to accept notification electronically.

(Source: P.A. 100-475, eff. 1-1-18.)

(215 ILCS 5/Art. XLVIII heading new)

ARTICLE XLVIII. RATES FOR FIRE AND EXTENDED COVERAGE INSURANCE

(215 ILCS 5/1801 new)

Sec. 1801. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to promote the public welfare by regulating fire and extended coverage insurance rates so that the rates will not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Nothing in this Article is intended to prohibit or discourage reasonable competition or to authorize or encourage, except to the extent necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Article, uniformity in insurance rates, rating systems, rating plans, or practices. This Article shall be liberally construed to carry into effect the provisions of this Section.

(215 ILCS 5/1802 new)

Sec. 1802. Applicability. This Article applies to policies of fire and extended coverage insurance, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 143.13 of this Code, to which Section 143.11 of this Code applies. This Article does not apply to the following:

(1) policies for any commercial liability and property insurance;

(2) policies for a structure, all or part of which is leased or rented, regardless of whether the insured occupied all or part of the structure as a primary residence;

(3) policies for a structure that is unoccupied and intended by the insured to be sold, leased, or rented or policies for a structure that is unoccupied and under active construction, renovation, or substantial improvement and that is intended by the insured to be sold, leased, or rented; and

(4) policies for a home or dwelling that is part of a farm policy, regardless of whether the insured owned the dwelling or occupied the dwelling as a primary residence.

(215 ILCS 5/1803 new)

Sec. 1803. Rate standards; excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.

(a) Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.

(b) A rate is inadequate if it endangers the solvency of the insurer.

(c) A rate is unfairly discriminatory if, after allowing for practical limitations, the price differentials fail to reflect the difference in expected losses and expenses. A rate is not unfairly discriminatory if different rates result for policyholders with similar loss exposures but different expenses, or similar expenses but different loss exposures, so long as the rate reflects the differences with reasonable accuracy.

(d) A rate is reasonable and not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory if it is an actuarially sound estimate of the expected value of all future costs associated with an individual risk transfer.

(215 ILCS 5/1804 new)

Sec. 1804. Determinations and notice; hearing.

(a) If the Department proves through independent actuarial testing consistent with actuarial professional standards that a filing is excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section and Section 1803, the Department shall send the company notice within 60 days after the filing specifying: (1) in what respects the filing fails to meet the requirements of this Article, and (2) if applicable, any modifications that are required. The notice shall specify a reasonable period after which the filing is no longer effective if the company fails to timely request a hearing under subsection (b). If the company timely requests a hearing under subsection (b), the filing shall remain in effect until the conclusion of the hearing and a final order is issued. If the Department finds that a rate is excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory pursuant to this Article, the final order may specify a reasonable period after which the filing is no longer effective.

(b) The company may request a hearing on the notice within 30 days after receipt. Failure to request a hearing within that 30-day period shall be deemed the company's acceptance of the Department's determination. Failure by the Department to hold the requested hearing within 60 days after the request and to resolve the outcome of the hearing within 90 days after the initial request shall result in dismissal of the Department's objection and the filing will remain in effect.

(c) All material, testing, and communication regarding activities outlined in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section shall be regarded as confidential work papers.

(d) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall apply only to filings submitted on or after January 1, 2027. Failure of the Department to make timely objections as outlined in subsection (a) shall result in the filing being deemed compliant with this Article.

(e) Any party aggrieved by a final order under this Article may seek judicial review in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County under the Administrative Review Law.

(215 ILCS 5/1805 new)

Sec. 1805. Prohibition on cost-shifting. Credible State-specific loss experience shall be used in the development of rates whenever such data is available and statistically reliable. To meet actuarial standards of credibility, insurers may supplement State-specific loss experience with countrywide, regional, or out-of-state loss experience. Nothing in this Section shall apply to rating relativity development during ratemaking. This Section shall only apply to companies issuing policies that are subject to this Article.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027.