Bill > HB595

This bill amends Ohio's insurance law to require that all motor vehicle insurance policies include uninsured motorist coverage, changing the previous language that made such coverage optional. The bill provides a comprehensive definition of what constitutes a "motor vehicle" for insurance purposes, which includes automobiles, trucks, semi-tractors, motorcycles, and buses, but explicitly excludes vehicles like golf carts, snowmobiles, and construction equipment. The legislation also clarifies the conditions under which a vehicle owner or operator is considered an "uninsured motorist," such as when there is no bodily injury liability insurance, the insurer denies coverage, or the owner's identity cannot be determined. The bill specifies that uninsured motorist coverage must provide protection for bodily injury, sickness, or death suffered by an insured, and allows insurance policies to include terms that prevent stacking of coverage and set specific time limits for filing claims. Additionally, the bill permits insurers to include conditions that exclude coverage under certain circumstances, such as when the insured is operating a vehicle without a reasonable belief of entitlement. The superintendent of insurance is also required to study the market availability and competition for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages and prepare periodic status reports.

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https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb595