Recently, PIACT provided written testimony on S.B.1386, which would prohibit insurance companies from using a dog’s breed as the factor in underwriting homeowners and tenants insurance policies. While PIACT does not take a formal stance on the bill, the association offered technical corrections to close potential loopholes that could undermine its effectiveness.
Learning from New York’s experience
PIACT’s ability to provide these crucial recommendations stems from its inclusion in the broader PIA Northeast organization, which successfully navigated similar legislation in New York state in 2021. That law prevented insurers from denying coverage based on breed, but it contained an unintended loophole: Insurers could comply with the law while still restricting or excluding coverage for certain breeds through policy adjustments.
Some insurers in New York responded to the law by reducing liability limits for dog-related claims or outright excluding coverage for certain breeds. This left many homeowners unaware that their insurance no longer fully covered dog-related incidents—effectively allowing breed-based discrimination to continue through indirect means.
Recognizing this issue, New York state legislators later passed additional legislation to close the loophole. Drawing from this experience, PIACT urged Connecticut lawmakers to proactively strengthen S.B.1386 before it is enacted.
Proposed fix: Preventing coverage reductions
PIACT’s key recommendation is to amend the bill’s language so that it would explicitly prohibit insurers from reducing or excluding coverage based on a dog’s breed. This correction ensures that insurance companies would not impose hidden breed-based restrictions through policy exclusions or liability sublimits. It also would preserve insurers’ ability to assess individual dog behavior, rather than relying on blanket breed assumptions.
Balancing consumer protection and a stable insurance market
PIACT’s testimony highlights the association’s commitment to fair and transparent insurance practices that protect consumers while maintaining a balanced insurance market. By leveraging its experience in New York state, PIACT is helping to shape stronger, more effective legislation in Connecticut.
With ongoing discussions among lawmakers, regulators and industry stakeholders, PIACT remains a key player in ensuring that insurance regulations work for both policyholders and insurers alike.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq.
Bradford J. Lachut, Esq., joined PIA as government affairs counsel for the Government & Industry Affairs Department in 2012 and then, after a four-month leave, he returned to the association in 2018 as director of government & industry affairs responsible for all legal, government relations and insurance industry liaison programs for the five state associations. Prior to PIA, Brad worked as an attorney for Steven J. Baum PC, in Amherst, and as an associate attorney for the law office of James Morris in Buffalo. He also spent time serving as senior manager of government affairs as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, a chamber of commerce serving the Buffalo, N.Y., region, his hometown. He received his juris doctorate from Buffalo Law School and his Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Politics from Utica College, Utica, N.Y. Brad is an active Mason and Shriner.
