WA Wants Your Homeowners Policy to Cover Firearms Incidents

SB 5963 All individuals who own a firearm in Washington must obtain and continually maintain a residential dwelling insurance policy that covers losses or damages resulting from the accidental or unintentional discharge of the firearm including, but not limited to, property damage and death or injury to individuals who are classified as an insured person under the policy. Individuals who own firearms must keep valid and current written evidence of this insurance coverage at any location where a firearm is stored. In the event of the unintentional discharge of a firearm, insurers are not required to defend or indemnify the insured beyond the terms or limits of their policy. Residential dwelling policy means any personal line insurance policy that includes either property or general casualty coverage, or both, meant to provide insurance for a residence including, but not limited to, homeowner, renter, condominium, mobile home, umbrella, and excess liability policies. Prior to the sale of a new residential dwelling or renewing a residential dwelling policy, surplus line brokers and insurance producers must ask whether any of the named or prospective insureds on the policy contract own a firearm. If the person responds affirmatively, the surplus line broker or insurance producer must inform the person of the requirement to keep and maintain a residential dwelling policy that covers losses or damages resulting from the accidental discharge of a firearm and must ask if the firearm or firearms are stored in a locking gun safe or secured with a trigger lock or similar device that is designed to prevent the unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm.