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House passes measure requiring insurers to offer replacement coverage for child car seats after crashes
Summary
House Bill 11‑79 requires automobile insurers to reimburse the cost of replacing a child restraint system that was present in a vehicle during an accident and to ask claimants whether a car seat was in use; supporters said it prevents financial hardship for families, while some members warned it could raise insurance costs for all drivers.
The House passed House Bill 11‑79 after a committee amendment and floor debate that added a technical clarification and required insurers to ask claimants whether a car seat was in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Representative Zocai, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber the idea grew from a personal experience in which an insurer denied reimbursement for a replacement car seat after a crash. The bill requires applicable auto insurance coverage to reimburse the cost of replacing a child restraint system present in a vehicle during an accident and directs insurers to ask claimants whether a car seat was in the vehicle.
Representative Richardson raised concerns that the change could raise insurance costs for all drivers and disputed a floor assertion that car seats must always be replaced after minor crashes, noting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines specify replacement thresholds depending on crash severity. Representative Soukla said the mandate could increase premiums, which would disproportionately affect lower‑income areas where families sometimes buy used car seats.
Supporters said the bill would relieve an unforeseen expense for families and increase child safety by ensuring damaged seats are replaced. After a committee amendment clarifying which auto coverage applies, the House passed the bill by voice vote; the chair announced the bill is adopted.
