At the start of the 2025 Connecticut legislative session, PIACT set an ambitious goal to make significant reforms to the state’s excess and surplus lines placement process; protect consumers from increased premiums; and protect producers from errors-and-omissions exposures.
Now with the 2025 session in the rearview mirror, PIACT can claim with confidence: Mission accomplished. With the passage of H.B.6981, PIACT secured a major win that will modernize the way brokers access the E&S market. Meanwhile, PIACT engaged in advocacy on bills related to flood insurance disclosures, dog breed underwriting and fossil fuel infrastructure surcharges—shaping outcomes that reflect the realities and needs of producers and consumers alike.
E&S reform law: A milestone win for PIACT, the industry
The highlight of the session was the successful passage of H.B.6981, a top PIACT legislative priority. The bill eliminates the outdated and burdensome requirement that brokers obtain formal declinations from admitted insurers before placing coverage in the nonadmitted E&S market through unaffiliated surplus lines brokers.
This procedural reform would streamline coverage placement, cut red tape, and allow brokers to serve clients with complex or high-risk needs more efficiently. The E&S market is vital for brokers who seek coverage for emerging risks or hard-to-place properties, and this legislation aligns Connecticut with states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Wisconsin that already have modernized similar requirements.
The bill’s passage in the Legislature reflects the success of grassroots advocacy: PIACT members engaged directly with lawmakers, offered testimony, and brought real-world experiences to the Capitol.
As the bill heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for his consideration, PIACT is preparing for implementation, to ensure agents understand the law and that they can navigate the new framework effectively.
Unnecessary burdens: Push back on flood mandates
While the E&S bill crossed the finish line, PIACT’s advocacy also helped stop legislation that could have imposed new burdens on producers without improving consumer outcomes. S.B.1245 proposed mandatory written flood insurance disclosures from insurance producers—including signed acknowledgments from every applicant for homeowners or renters insurance.
PIACT opposed this bill, arguing that independent agents already discuss flood coverage—particularly in flood-prone areas—and that the real barrier is affordability, not awareness. The bill’s duplicative requirements would have created unnecessary paperwork, compliance headaches, and liability exposure for producers, especially for small agencies with limited resources.
Importantly, PIACT did support amendments to other flood disclosure proposals, including language in early drafts of S.B.9, which ultimately advanced instead. S.B.9 shifted the disclosure burden to insurance carriers, and would require carriers to notify policyholders that standard policies do not provide coverage for loss cause by flood, and that flood insurance is available under a separate policy. This solution that addressed the Legislature’s awareness goals without placing undue responsibility on producers.
Thanks in part to PIACT’s clear, constructive advocacy, S.B.1245 never made it out of committee, and a more practical alternative took its place.
Fairer underwriting: Corrections to the dog breed bill
Another notable proposal was S.B.1386, which aimed to prohibit insurers from using a dog’s breed as an underwriting factor in homeowners or renters insurance. PIACT did not take a formal position on the bill, but it drew from experience in New York state to recommend key technical corrections that would close unintended loopholes.
In New York, similar legislation passed in 2021, only for some insurers to circumvent its intent by excluding or capping coverage for certain breeds through policy sublimits. To prevent a repeat of this action in Connecticut, PIACT proposed language that would explicitly prohibit exclusions or reductions in coverage based solely on breed, while preserving insurers’ ability to assess individual dog behavior.
Though S.B.1386 did not pass the state Senate, PIACT’s input contributed to a more informed legislative discussion and helped lay the groundwork for future consumer-protection measures that maintain underwriting fairness and transparency.
Protect the market: PIACT opposes surcharges
PIACT also voiced strong opposition to H.B.7174, which proposed a 5% surcharge on any insurance policy issued or renewed for businesses involved in fossil fuel infrastructure—such as pipelines, refineries, terminals or utility-scale power plants (excluding home fuel delivery vehicles).
PIACT warned that the bill would unfairly single out one industry segment and create instability in the insurance marketplace. By targeting policyholders based on their connection to lawful business activities, the bill risked politicizing the underwriting process and introducing unintended market distortions. Fortunately, this proposal did not advance through the Legislature.
Looking ahead
From securing reformational legislation to blocking overreaching proposals, PIACT’s engagement in the 2025 session underscores the importance of independent agents having a strong voice at the Capitol.
As new challenges and opportunities arise, PIACT remains committed to defending its members’ interests, shaping practical policy, and ensuring Connecticut’s insurance market remains fair, modern and competitive.
