PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 24282025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Preventing unintentional lapses and cancellations of life insurance policies.

Sponsored By: Mari Leavitt (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Grace period and 6% interest cap

Beginning January 1, 2027, individual life policies include a one-month grace period (at least 30 days) for any premium after the first. Your coverage stays in force during the grace period. The insurer may charge interest on the overdue amount, capped at 6% per year for the days late. If a claim is due during the grace period before you pay, the insurer may deduct the overdue premium and that interest from the payout.

Life insurance lapse notices and backups

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must send a written notice at least 30 days before an individual life policy will lapse for nonpayment. The notice must go to your last known address and to any third-party you named. Insurers must keep proof they sent it, like first-class mail with a barcode, certified mail, an email read receipt, or shipping tracking, and show it on request. You have the right to name a third person to also get lapse notices at application or any time by sending the insurer a written request with the person’s name and address. Your designee has no legal duty to act or pay, and naming them does not create insurer liability to that designee. This notice rule does not apply to group life, policies with premiums due monthly or more often, or term life policies of one year or less.

Protections start for new policies 2027

The law takes effect January 1, 2027. The grace period, notice, proof, and third-party designee rules apply only to life insurance policies issued on or after that date. Policies issued before that date are not changed.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mari Leavitt

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Kristine Reeves

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 142 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/12/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 94 • No: 0 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 1/1/2027.

    3/16/2026House

  2. Chapter 62, 2026 Laws.

    3/16/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/16/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/6/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/6/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/5/2026legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    3/4/2026House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2026House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/27/2026House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/20/2026House

  11. BTE - Majority; do pass.

    2/19/2026House

  12. First reading, referred to Business, Trade & Economic Development.

    2/16/2026House

  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.

    2/12/2026House

  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/12/2026House

  15. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/12/2026House

  16. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/11/2026House

  17. CPB - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/4/2026House

  18. CPB - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/4/2026House

  19. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/4/2026House

  20. First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Business.

    1/13/2026House

  21. Introduced

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in