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Committee approves study of property insurance amid steep premium increases and wildfire concerns
Summary
The Senate Business and Labor Committee concurred on HJR61 to form an interim study of Montana’s property insurance market, prompted by testimony citing a roughly 44% premium increase, tightened reinsurance markets and insurers pulling back from high‑wildfire areas.
Representative Josh Seckinger opened on House Joint Resolution 61, which would launch an interim study into Montana’s property insurance market and the causes of rising premiums.
Seckinger described what he called “escrow creep” and said homeowners’ premiums have increased roughly 44% over five years while coverage has shrunk in high‑wildfire areas; he said HJR61 is bipartisan and supported by the insurance commissioner’s office.
A series of industry and consumer witnesses backed the study. Frank Cote, representing the commissioner of securities and insurance, urged the legislature to avoid rushed fixes and to use the interim period to gather…
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