Committee hears bill requiring insurers to share aerial images and scoring before nonrenewing homeowner policies

Representative Lehman told the House Insurance Committee on Wednesday that House Bill 1109 would require insurers to provide homeowners with dated aerial images, the conditions the insurer identified, steps the homeowner could take to cure the condition and the scoring method used, when aerial imagery is the sole basis for a nonrenewal decision.

The measure, Lehman said, responds to a growing use of aerial photography and other remote technologies in underwriting and renewal decisions. “If you're going to nonrenew my policy, you're strictly using aerial photography, we need to have this conversation,” he said. Under the bill, images must be date-stamped within the last 12 months (with parties open to regional adjustments), insurers must identify the specific condition that prompted the nonrenewal and must provide a 60‑day cure period during which the policyholder may fix the issue and seek reconsideration. The bill would also require disclosure of the scoring system that the carrier used to assess the property.

Industry witnesses said aerial imagery is a useful underwriting tool but raised implementation questions. Brian Christenberry, regional vice president for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, said members use aerial imagery “to better find … property risks” and are willing to work with the bill’s sponsor on guardrails. John Zarecz, representing the Insurance Institute of Indiana and State Farm, said companies typically have human review steps and supported creating a state-level expectation for consumers to see imagery and to have a process for addressing issues.

Consumer advocates told the committee they have already received complaints. Amy Nelson, executive director of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, said her organization has seen homeowners who lost or were at risk of losing coverage because of aerial images that were unclear or incorrect. Nelson urged extending the cure period from 60 to 90–120 days, citing summer scheduling constraints for contractors and roofers.

Committee members and witnesses also discussed narrower but practical questions: what counts as aerial imagery (the bill defines the term broadly), whether a 12‑month image window is appropriate in rural areas, limits if the imagery is proprietary, and whether carriers can provide both the imagery and the underlying scoring without violating third‑party data protections. Lehman acknowledged those concerns and said he sought a hearing to develop workable guardrails before seeking further action.

The committee received no formal vote on HB 1109 at the hearing; the bill was listed as “hearing only.” The committee chair moved on to other agenda items after testimony concluded.

Ending: The bill drew general support for transparency from consumer advocates and cautious openness from insurers; lawmakers directed follow-up discussions with industry stakeholders on technical and proprietary issues before the measure advances.