IdahoIdaho law requires advance notice before insurers end covered policies
Idaho law provides 60-day notice rules for ending covered fire and business policies, with exceptions, taking effect January 1, 2027.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, covered fire policies must require 60 days’ written notice before cancellation or refusal to renew, with reasons. Unpaid premiums have a shorter notice period.
Covered business insurers must give 60 days’ notice before certain cancellations or refusal to renew. Shorter cancellation periods and exceptions for renewal offers or replacement coverage apply.
Argument forThe 60-day notice could give property owners more time to find replacement fire insurance before their coverage ends.
Argument againstLate notices could require fire insurers to keep covering a property for 60 days after notice, beyond their planned end date.
More detail
Covered fire policies must require insurers to explain why they are canceling coverage or refusing to renew it. These requirements cover policies governed by Idaho’s standard fire-policy rules. Those rules are not mandatory for vehicle, marine, inland marine, or growing-crop insurance. Cancellation for unpaid premiums requires at least 10 days’ notice. When mailed, that period starts five days after the postmark. If a nonrenewal notice is mailed less than 60 days before expiration, coverage continues until 60 days after notice is mailed or delivered. Certain combined policies can qualify for an exception if they meet fire coverage, lender protection, complete policy wording, and insurance director approval requirements. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027; the effective-date passage is s17837.
Business insurers must give at least 60 days’ written notice before certain cancellations or refusal to renew covered policies. The rules cover business property, liability, and combined-risk policies. They exclude aviation and employer liability, workers’ compensation, umbrella policies, group-wide cancellations, and other listed specialized arrangements. Cancellation for unpaid premiums requires at least 10 days’ notice. When mailed, that period starts five days after the postmark. A separate rule provides at least 30 days’ cancellation notice for new policies that have not been in effect for 60 days, except for unpaid premiums. Nonrenewal notice is not required if the insurer’s group offers renewal or the policyholder obtains replacement coverage or agrees in writing to obtain it. If a nonrenewal notice is mailed late, coverage continues until 60 days after notice is mailed or delivered. Charges for that extra coverage use the previous year’s rate, adjusted for its length. The commercial rules apply only to policies with coverage effective dates after January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 201 Effective: 01/01/2027Became Law
- Mar 26Delivered to Governor at 12:58 p.m. on March 26, 2026To Governor
- Mar 26Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 25Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 25Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 25Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 24Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Read third time in full – PASSED - 20-13-2AYES – Adams, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Foreman, Galloway, Guthrie, Harris, Lenney, Lent, Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardNAYS – Den Hartog, Grow, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – Anthon, Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - RuchtiTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 19Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 6Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human ResourcesMinor
- Mar 6Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 5Read third time in full as amended – PASSED - 51-17-2AYES – Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen(Athay), Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Alfieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Cayler, Ehardt, Ehlers, Hawkins, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Price, Rasor, Scott, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), ThompsonAbsent – Erickson, GreenFloor Sponsor - SauterTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full as amended –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar one legislative day
- Mar 3Read second time as amended; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 2Read first time as amended; filed for Second Reading
- Mar 2Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Feb 27Bill as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Feb 27Amendments Referred to the JRA for Printing
- Feb 27Reported out without recommendation as amended
- Feb 27Referred to the Committee of the Whole
- Feb 26Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders
- Feb 2Reported Printed and Referred to Business
- Jan 30Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Consumer Protection