Montana committee hears bill to require insurers to disclose wildfire-risk scoring details to homeowners

Representative Curtis Schomer, sponsor of House Bill 533, told the Senate Business and Labor Committee the bill would let insured homeowners request information about how insurers use wildfire-risk scores in underwriting residential property.

The measure would require insurers who use a wildfire or wildland‑fire risk score in residential underwriting to provide, upon request, an explanation of the score, the possible range of scores and what inputs were used so consumers can better understand denials or nonrenewals.

Schomer said the bill is a consumer‑protection measure aimed at increasing transparency for homeowners who suddenly find policies nonrenewed or moved to surplus markets after third‑party “fire score” vendors assess their risk. “This bill protects you, the…