Regulatory Updates

Effective January 14th, 2025, South Carolina has extended the state of emergency bulletin from Hurricane Helene. This state is extending the original bulletin rule by an additional 90 days (April 25, 2025), nonresident adjusters or motor vehicle physical damage appraisers will be permitted to enter the state to handle adjustments without being required to be licensed in South Carolina. Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted on January 13, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties area due to the Palisades fire burning in California. The state of emergency authorizes insurers and licensed insurance adjusters to be able to utilize nonlicensed adjusters to the extent such use is reasonably necessary to respond to the losses arising out of the wildfires if each of the following three requirements are met: 1) The work performed by nonlicensed adjusters is under the active direction, control, charge, and/or management of a qualified licensed adjuster, qualified manager, or an insurer authorized to do business in California. 2) The nonlicensed adjuster registers with the Insurance Commissioner within 15 days from the date on which the nonlicensed adjuster commences the claims adjusting activity in connection with the wildfires.  [Registration Information](https://interactive.web.insurance.ca.gov/apex_extprd/f?p=205:999) Registration is valid for a period of 180 days from the date of the registration. 3) All claims adjusters, whether California-licensed or not, who are assigned to wildfire claims must be properly trained on:  - [California Unfair Practices Act, Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, ](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/130-laws-regs-hearings/05-CCR/fair-claims-regs.cfm) - All laws relating to property and casualty insurance claims handling Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted January 13, 2025, Alaska declared a catastrophe in response to severe windstorms that occurred the weekend of January 11, 2025. A nonresident independent adjuster not licensed by this state who is licensed by and in good standing with its resident state may act as an adjuster and adjust a single loss in this state during a calendar year, or may act as an adjuster and adjust losses arising out of a catastrophe as declared by the director.  Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted January 9, 2025, California since 2007, has distributed notices to insurers, agents/brokers, and adjusters regarding significant California laws that pertain to residential property insurance policies. These notices focus on wildfire claims and can be found on the Department’s Wildfire Resources webpage. These cover a range of topics such as:  - Cost Calculation,  - Time Limit To Collect Cost,  - Land Value Deduction,  - Advance Payments (additional living expenses),  - and More  Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted January 9, 2025, California releases a guide for adjusting property claims after a major disaster. In this guide, the topics go over: - Registration,  - Required Documentation, - CE Requirements,  - The Departments Annual Notice and Guide for Adjusting Property Claims   After the state declares a state of emergency, licensed adjusters and qualified managers are to require the employees and non licensed adjusters under their supervision to read and understand the Department’s most recent Notice and this Guide no later than 15 calendar days from the date on which the employee began claims adjusting activity in California.

Effective December 1, 2024, Pennsylvania revised the 1609-PR Affidavit which can be found on the following link: [PASLA](https://www.pasla.org/efs_forms.htm) The following fields have been removed on the affidavit: - Location of Risk - Street Address Only - Amount of Insurance - Property Amount - Amount of Insurance - Casualty Amount Please see the attachment for more information.

 Effective February 8, 2025, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance will be changing to the below address, One Federal St., Suite 700 Boston, MA 02110

Posted January 9, 2025, California issued a mandatory pause on cancellations and non renewals of policies of residential property insurance for one year. “An insurer shall not cancel or refuse to renew a policy of residential property insurance for a property located in any ZIP Code within or adjacent to the fire perimeter, for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency" On January 7, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in the following ZIP Codes:  - Palisades Fire: 90049, 90265, 90272, 90290, 90402, 91301, 91302, 91320, 91356, 91361, 91364, 91436  - Eaton Fire: 91001, 91006, 91007, 91011, 91016, 91020, 91024, 91042, 91101, 91103, 91104, 91106, 91107, 91108, 91206, 91208, 91214, 91706, 91731, 91732, 91775, 91780, 93563 Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted January 8, 2025, Illinois Department of Insurance’s Chicago Office has relocated to the following address: 115 South LaSalle Street 13th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60603 Please see the attachment for more information.

Posted January 9, 2025, The Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY)  posted a bulletin providing information on the filing of "ZERO" premium tax statements through the Department of Financial Services (DFS) portal if they meet ALL of the following criteria: - No surplus lines business was written in New York for the year 2024 - No transactions were reported to Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) for any endorsements/cancellations - No premium taxes or credits are due for 2024 and prior years. Please see the attachment for more information.