Extending Non-Renewal Notices to Protect Consumers and Business Owners
The notification period for non-renewal of insurance is critically important to independent agents and the clients they serve. As an independent agent, you are likely the first call a business owner or homeowner makes when they are notified that their policy is being non-renewed. You are there for your clients and tasked with finding solutions – often under tight deadlines.
Ohio currently has a 30-day notification period for non-renewal of commercial lines (ORC 3937.26). When a commercial of property policy is non-renewed with only 30 days’ notice, it puts agents and their clients in a difficult position. Complex risks cannot be remarketed overnight. There are cases where business owners and homeowners are left scrambling, and agents are forced to make quick decisions rather than the most strategic ones.
Through advocacy efforts, the OIA Government Affairs team has elevated these concerns with legislators and emphasized the need for more time. House Bill 652 recognizes this reality by extending the non-renewal notice period to 60 days for commercial lines and HO policies, giving agents and policy holders the time they need to respond appropriately.
HB 652 is gaining traction in the Ohio House Committee. In this article, we will outline why OIA Government Affairs strongly supports this legislation. We will discuss how HB 652 modernizes non-renewal notice requirements, emulates legislation that has been successful in other states, highlight how this issue has been addressed at the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), and underscore why this reform is important for both consumers and independent agents.
Modernizing the Notice Requirement Process
We live in an increasingly digital world, and much has changed since the laws governing non-renewal notices were established under Senate Bill 187 in 2004. House Bill 652 acknowledges this shift by allowing electronic delivery of non-renewal notices when policyholders have previously agreed to receive electronic communications. Insureds who do not opt for electronic delivery will continue to receive their notice of non-renewal by mail.
Allowing insureds and their agents to receive a notice of non-renewal electronically helps speed up timelines. This change is incredibly impactful and will allow agents to engage earlier and begin the remarketing process as soon as possible.
Timing Means Everything
When it comes to insurance non-renewals, timing is everything. For a homeowner, receiving only 30 days’ notice that your HO policy is not being renewed can be overwhelming and stressful, particularly in today’s property insurance market. With limited time, homeowners may struggle to understand why they are being non-renewed and gather required information. In these moments, their agent is likely to step in and guide them through the process.
A 60-day non-renewal notice would give homeowners a meaningful opportunity to work with their agent to evaluate coverage options, address underwriting concerns, and secure replacement coverage. This additional time will help homeowners stay within the admitted market and maintain protection for their most important asset. While non-renewal decisions are not made in a vacuum, and insurers have the right to exit certain lines of business or reduce exposures in specific areas, those decisions carry real consequences for policyholders.
The challenge can be even greater for commercial lines, particularly when dealing with complex risks. For example, a 100-year-old church may have been insured by the same carrier for decades. If that carrier decides to exit that line of business, which is totally within its rights, finding replacement coverage could be extremely difficult. Unique policies like these may be forced to place coverage for a higher cost in the E&S market if there is not adequate time to shop for new coverage.
If House Bill 652 is passed and the 60-day notice of non-renewal is established, it will help homeowners and business owners avoid gaps in coverage, negotiate terms and pricing, and have a better likelihood of staying within the admitted market.
Ohio Isn’t Alone in This Approach
House Bill 652 follows the movement of other states toward recognizing the importance of a 60-day non-renewal standard.
Texas
In 2023, the state of Texas enacted laws requiring extended notice periods for non-renewals of property policies and personal auto policies. This legislation took the state from a 30-day non-renewal to a 60-day non-renewal period. The bill was passed out of the Texas House with a vote of 136-0.
Georgia
Georgia passed their legislation increasing the notification period in 2025. On January 1st, 2026, Georgia’s new notice laws were officially enacted. The Georgia Legislature enacted legislation that required a 60-day notice period for property policies.
Indiana
Indiana law already requires a 45-day notice period for non-renewals of commercial lines. Building on that framework, Indiana recently passed legislation out of Indiana House of Representatives by a vote of 92-1 that would extend the non-renewal notice period to 60 days for HO policies.
Ohio is not looking for any new groundbreaking laws. We are following the lead of other states that have enacted similar legislation in a very bi-partisan manner. Legislators across the country know the importance of protecting homeowners and giving them more time to place coverage. House Bill 652 encompasses that spirit while also looking to protect the well-being of small and large businesses across Ohio.
NCOIL Model Resolution
This issue has gained attention at the national level. Late in 2025, the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) adopted a model resolution urging states to update their non-renewal periods from 30 days to 60 days. The NCOIL resolution acknowledged that several state legislatures have acted on this issue and expressed interest in providing consumers with more time to make these key coverage decisions. HB 652 aligns Ohio with the best practices advocated for in this model resolution and reinforces the role agents play in protecting consumers and businesses.
A Consumer and Agent Focused Reform
House Bill 652 does not force insurers to renew policies they no longer wish to write. The bill simply ensures that when a non-renewal occurs, agents and policyholders are given adequate notice and clear communication.
For Ohio’s independent agents, this bill means more time for you to do your jobs well. For your clients, it means fewer surprises and better protection. And for Ohio’s Insurance Market, this legislation recognizes reality, values timeliness and transparency, and puts businesses and homeowners in a better position to adjust and find new coverage.
If you support legislation to extend the notice period for non-renewal and would like to provide written testimony in support of HB 652, please contact George Christy at george@ohioinsuranceagents.com. Advocacy from agents is central to OIA Government Affairs’ efforts, and your engagement plays a meaningful role in advancing this important reform.
Sources:
GA SB35 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | LegiScan
88(R) HB 1900 – Enrolled version – Bill Text
Section 3937.26 – Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws
About the Author:
George Christy joined the Ohio Insurance Agents (OIA) as the new Government Affairs Manager in January 2025. George brings experience from his previous roles at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). At ODOT, he was part of the communications team, and he worked on legislative and regulatory issues with the Legislative Affairs team. George brings experience from his work on state legislative campaigns, his time as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, and his roles at a state agency. George grew up in Delaware County and is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied Political Science and Economics.
