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Bill > S968


NJ S968

NJ S968
Requires insurers offering commercial general liability insurance policies to provide notification of exclusion for communicable disease.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires insurers offering commercial general liability insurance policies to provide a notification of any exclusion for communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. The bill requires authorized insurers to provide to any potential purchaser of, or any policyholder seeking renewal of, a commercial general liability insurance policy, a clear statement on a separate page and in a prominent position, as to whether the policy provides liability coverage for transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. If the policy contains an exclusion for coverage of transmission of communicable disease or an exclusion for coverage of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, the statement is to include: (1) the cost of removing the exclusion; or (2) if the exclusion cannot be removed, a statement providing that coverage for the transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, may be purchased from another insurer. If an insurance contract fails to include the statement required by the bill, any coverage exclusion for transmission of communicable disease or transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 is to be invalid, and the contract is deemed to provide liability coverage for transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. As insurance companies adjust to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, some companies have begun to include exclusions for transmission of communicable disease in their commercial general liability policies. This bill requires that insurers provide a prominent notification of any such exclusions to potential purchasers and policyholders so that businesses can be certain of the limits of their coverage.

AI Summary

This bill requires insurers offering commercial general liability insurance policies, which are policies that protect businesses from claims of injury or property damage, to clearly inform potential buyers and policyholders seeking renewal whether their policy covers liability for the transmission of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. If a policy excludes such coverage, the insurer must either state the cost to remove the exclusion or inform the policyholder that coverage might be available from another insurer. Crucially, if an insurer fails to provide this required notification, any exclusion for communicable disease transmission will be considered invalid, and the policy will automatically be interpreted as providing coverage for such transmissions. This measure aims to ensure businesses are fully aware of their insurance coverage limitations regarding disease transmission, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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