What's new in Washington - Week of August 17, 2026

Published August 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM · News Releases and Bulletins, What's New – WA

Washington — Spokane Wildfire Claims Workshop: The Office of the Insurance Commissioner is hosting a monthly claims workshop in Spokane for people who are navigating the recovery process from the wildfires in the region.

Insurance claim experts from Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer’s office will be on site to tell you what you should know and expect about the insurance claims process, share best practices, and answer questions.

“Navigating insurance claims can be overwhelming, and we’re here to help every step of the way,” Kuderer said. “Recovering from a devastating loss is a long road. These monthly, in-person workshops will focus on what people should do at each step of the recovery process, from filing the claim after the initial loss through rebuilding.”

The first claims workshop was Monday, Aug. 17. Starting in September, the workshops will be held the second Monday of every month from 6 – 8:30 p.m.

The OIC will record the workshops for viewing afterwards.

Commissioner Kuderer has issued two emergency orders to provide relief to people affected by the wildfires:

On Aug. 3, she issued an order that prevents property and auto insurers from nonrenewing policies for nonpayment and extends grace periods. That order remains in effect through Sept. 30.

On Aug. 6, she issued an order that offers people in affected areas streamlined access to their prescription medications.

Washington — Modernize producer licensing and reporting requirements (R 2026-06):

We are considering a proposed rule to clean up and modernize rule language to better reflect the OIC’s current electronic licensing and verification processes. This includes removing outdated requirements to submit a paper score report, eliminating references to fingerprint cards that are seldom used due to electronic fingerprinting, removing an obsolete reference to a five-dollar filing fee, and clarifying the timeline for license exam results to count for an application. In addition, rulemaking may be considered to provide guidance for an insurer who is terminating a producer’s appointment for cause.

The comment period for this rule began on August 14, 2026, at 8 a.m. and is open until September 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Please send comments to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

For more information, including the notice to start rulemaking (CR-101), please visit the rule webpage.

Washington — Implementing travel insurance regulation (R 2026-05): We are considering a proposed rule to implement Substitute Senate Bill 6248, which establishes a framework for selling travel insurance in Washington.

Substitute Senate Bill 6248 passed during the 2026 legislative session. The bill was largely modeled after the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Travel Insurance Model Act. This rulemaking will facilitate implementation of the new law, which creates a new travel insurance chapter in the insurance code and would outline a framework within which travel insurance may be sold in Washington state.

Rulemaking may be necessary to address certain changes in law, including new definitions, producer licensing requirements, rate and form filing requirements, and marketing and advertising requirements. In addition to other provisions, the new law broadens who can sell travel insurance by establishing a ‘travel administrator’ and requires them to be licensed as a limited line travel insurance producer and exempts them from adjuster licensing requirements. The commissioner is considering amending the following WACs, which may include but not be limited to: WAC 284-17-001; WAC 284-17-011; WAC 284-24-065.

The comment period for this rule began on August 14, 2026, at 8 a.m. and is open until September 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.. Please send comments to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

For more information, including the notice to start rulemaking (CR-101), please visit the rule webpage.

Washington — Updates to the BBPA Arbitration Forms: As required by WAC 284-43B-105, the OIC is notifying the public of changes to the forms used to submit arbitration requests. These forms are required to be used for proceedings under RCW 48.49.040.

This notice was posted to the OIC webpage on August 11, 2026. These updated forms will be required to be used beginning September 10, 2026.

For general questions about the balance billing arbitration process, please contact the Administrative Hearings Unit.