On February 11, the Washington state Senate passed Bill 5928 with a strong 48–1 vote. This bill aims to make insurance companies more transparent about how they assess wildfire risks when providing home insurance. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for further review.
Under this proposed law, insurers would have to share wildfire risk scores used in their decisions. They would need to explain what factors influenced these scores and offer simple advice to homeowners on how to lower their risk. Property owners would also get a chance to appeal if they have made improvements since their last assessment or if they believe the score has errors.
Currently, insurance companies use third-party wildfire risk scores to decide who can get coverage, how much it costs, and whether a policy can be renewed. These scores are different from other local fire safety ratings or climate risk scores often found online. However, these assessments sometimes overlook efforts by communities or homeowners to reduce risks, according to the state’s Insurance Commissioner.
The bill has gathered support from groups like the Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Realtors, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Washington Fire Chiefs Association.
There’s also another related bill in the works, Senate Bill 6079, which would create a pilot program to help homeowners strengthen their homes against wildfires following standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. That bill is currently waiting for further consideration.
For now, although Bill 5928 has passed the Senate, it is not yet law. The House will decide its fate, and questions about rollout and timing are still open. But if it becomes law, homeowners in Washington could have better insight into wildfire risks and more tools to protect their properties.