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Bill

H 1100

An Act relating to insurance adjusters

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Barrett and 5 co-sponsors

Prohibits insurers from banning insureds from hiring a public insurance adjuster for property/casualty claims, ensuring access to such services.

Accompanied H1084
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 1100

Summary: H 1100 - An Act relating to insurance adjusters (Massachusetts)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to protect insureds’ ability to hire public insurance adjusters when pursuing property and casualty claims. It prohibits insurers from including or enforcing contract language that restricts insureds from hiring public adjusters or public adjusting firms as a condition of coverage or recovery.

Key provisions

  • Section 2C (added to Chapter 175)

    • Prohibits any insurer (domestic, admitted foreign, surplus lines, captive, reinsurer, third-party administrator, or company defined in Chapter 175) from including in any property/c casualty policy language, form, or endorsement that prohibits an insured from hiring a public insurance adjuster or a public adjusting firm.
    • Such language is declared unlawful under Chapter 93A and must be excised from the policy, with all other policy language remaining intact.

  • Section 2 (added to Chapter 176D)

    • Amends subsection (9) to add new subsection (o): prohibits policy provisions that prohibit an insured from hiring a public adjuster for services under the policy.

  • Definitions

    • The term “public insurance adjuster” is used as defined in section 162 of Chapter 175, linking the prohibition to the statutory definition found there.

Who is affected

  • Insurers issuing property and casualty policies in Massachusetts, including:
    • Domestic insurers
    • Admitted foreign insurers
    • Surplus lines insurers
    • Captive insurers
    • Reinsurers
    • Third-party administrators or related entities defined in Chapter 175
  • Policyholders/insureds who may hire public adjusters to assist with claims

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduction and sponsorship
    • Introduced February 27, 2025
    • Primary sponsor: Daniel Cahill; several co-sponsors
  • Legislative actions
    • Referred to the Committee on Financial Services
    • Hearing scheduled for May 13, 2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM in hearing room A-2)
    • The bill was accompanied by House Bill 1084 (HD 1843) as the companion
    • Related status entries indicate ongoing review and amendments; the companion HD 1843 is noted as a replaces-type bill
  • Status
    • As of the provided record, the bill is in the Legislative process with a scheduled hearing and accompanying companion bill

Related bill

  • HD 1843 (companion/replacers): The companion bill that accompanies H 1100, referenced in the legislative materials; the two are tied in advancing the policy.

Potential impact

  • Consumer protection: Strengthens insureds’ rights to hire public adjusters without insurer-imposed restrictions, potentially improving claim accuracy and outcomes for policyholders.
  • Insurance industry: Requires removal of any policy language that bans public adjusters, which could affect underwriting forms and marketing practices; enforcement under the consumer protection framework (Chapter 93A) may lead to penalties for noncompliance.
  • Public adjuster sector: Likely to see increased demand for services relating to property/casualty claims.

This summary captures the bill’s core aim, its principal provisions, who it affects, and the notable procedural steps and timeline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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