Committee hears testimony on bill to bar insurer clauses that bar hiring public adjusters

The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on House Bill 1100 and Senate Bill 785, bills that would make unlawful endorsements in insurance policies that bar policyholders from hiring licensed public insurance adjusters, at a committee hearing. Supporters — including public adjusters, trade groups and several homeowners — urged the committee to protect consumer access to adjusters; surplus-lines practices that include so-called anti-public-adjuster endorsements were described as the primary problem.

Supporters said the bills matter because a public adjuster can uncover omitted damages, negotiate supplemental payments and guide homeowners through appraisal/reference procedures that many policyholders do not know exist. "A public adjuster represents the interest of the insured in the negotiation of insurance claims," Tim Ball, president of…