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SB 551

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance - Collisions With Wild Animals - Prohibited Actions by Insurers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jack Bailey and 11 co-sponsors

Maryland bill prohibits auto insurers from penalizing drivers with premium increases or policy cancellations for wildlife collision claims.

Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 551

Legislative bill overview

SB 551 prohibits auto insurers from taking certain actions against policyholders who file claims for collisions with wild animals. The bill restricts insurers' ability to deny coverage, cancel policies, or increase premiums based solely on wildlife collision claims. This represents a regulatory intervention in how insurance companies can respond to a specific category of accidents.

Why is this important

Wildlife collisions are unpredictable events beyond driver control, yet they can trigger premium increases or policy cancellations that penalize drivers for unavoidable accidents. This bill aims to protect consumers from financial consequences for incidents they cannot reasonably prevent, which could reduce barriers to claim filing and ensure continued coverage accessibility in areas with high animal collision frequencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry impact: Insurers may argue that restricting their underwriting tools limits their ability to assess and price risk accurately, potentially leading to cost-shifting to other policyholders
  • Coverage scope ambiguity: The bill's language about "prohibited actions" may be unclear regarding whether it applies only to premium increases, cancellations, or also affects claims processing and deductibles
  • Geographic fairness: Drivers in rural areas with frequent wildlife collisions could benefit disproportionately, while urban drivers subsidize their lower risk profiles through pooled rates

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

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