RI Senate passes Victoria Gu bill to require home insurers to give proper notice before cancellation

Climate change risk pushes insurers to cancel coastal home insurance 

The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu to require insurers to provide customers with advance notice of nonrenewal for homeowners and residential fire insurance policies.

“Insurance companies are being a lot more selective about the location and the condition of the houses they insure, declining to cover homes in coastal areas or with older roofs or water heaters,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). 

“The 60 days’ advance notice will help homeowners find alternative insurance coverage and find tradespeople if they need to fix something at their house in order to continue insurance coverage.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Cathy and I went through this last year TWICE, each time finding insurance companies were changing the rules about covering properties near the coast. Once you find coverage, or maybe I should say IF you find coverage, prices are way up.  - Will Collette

The legislation (2026-S 2011A) would require insurers to provide written notice of nonrenewal at least 60 days before the renewal date for homeowners and residential fire insurance policies, beginning July 1, 2027.

In recent years a number of insurers in Rhode Island have stopped providing home insurance, mirroring a national trend of higher prices and fewer options for homeowners.

The bill now moves to the House, where Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly) has introduced similar legislation (2026-H 7066).