House debates motor-vehicle insurance bill that raises liability limits and requires stacked under-insurance coverage

Substitute House Bill 14, introduced by Representative Kelly C. Atkinson, was presented and debated on the House floor. The bill proposes three principal changes: raise bodily-injury liability minimums (from $20,000/$40,000 to $25,000/$50,000), require insurers to offer under-insured motorist coverage and prohibit offsetting (so under-insurance coverage is "stacked"), and include consumer-notification language requiring insurers to make offers and allow for additional solicitations shortly after policy issuance.

Representative Atkinson illustrated the practical effect of stacking through a constituent example: a $45,000 jury award where an at-fault driver carried $20,000 liability and the insured had a $25,000 under-insured policy; because many policies offset the under-insured benefit, the insured would recover only $25,000 under current practice rather than being made whole. The proposed changes would let the insured recover stacked under-insurance amounts to cover losses more fully. The sponsor and industry representatives estimated that raising liability limits would produce modest average premium increases (estimates ranged from roughly $5–$15 per year for many drivers; higher for high-risk drivers).

Opponents warned that a mandatory increase in liability minimums could raise costs for fixed-income households. Representative Stevens proposed deleting a section requiring up to three renewal solicitations by insurers; the motion to delete that solicitation-language was put to a vote and failed on a tie, leaving the solicitation requirement in place. Several members declared conflicts of interest on the floor (noting roles as insurance-agency board members or agents). The bill remained under active debate at adjournment, with procedural motions to circle or consider amendments recorded on the floor.