HB 5175 Summary

• Authorized agencies (State Fire Marshal, Insurance Commissioner, and law enforcement) may request insurance companies release information about fire or explosion losses of undetermined or incendiary origin, including policies, premium records, and claims history.

• Insurance companies must furnish all relevant investigation materials to authorized agencies when suspecting a fire or explosion loss was caused by undetermined or incendiary means, and may request similar information from authorized agencies.

• Smoke detection equipment must be installed in all residential buildings designed for one or more families, powered by household electrical service (except buildings with permits before October 1, 1976 may use battery power), with specific requirements for interconnection and sleeping area placement based on building permit dates.

• Property transferors must provide an affidavit certifying that residential buildings (one or two families) have smoke and carbon monoxide detection equipment complying with fire safety codes; failure to provide the affidavit requires a $250 credit to the transferee at closing.

• Exemptions from affidavit requirements include transfers between co-owners, transfers to family members without consideration, court orders, government transfers, foreclosure deeds, refinancing transactions, and transfers by executors or trustees.