MS HB992

All property insurance policies issued or delivered in Mississippi must include a mandatory appraisal provision that either the insurer or policyholder can invoke when they disagree on loss amount or property value

The appraisal process requires each party to select an appraiser, and the two appraisers then select an umpire; if they cannot agree on an umpire, either party may request a court judge make the selection

The appraisal panel has exclusive authority to determine property value, loss amount, causation issues, repair costs, repair methods, scope of damage, and applicable building code requirements

Decisions agreed to by any two members of the three-person appraisal panel are binding on both parties

Coverage and liability disputes remain reserved for the courts, but ongoing coverage issues do not prevent the appraisal process from proceeding; effective date is July 1, 2026