Colorado DOI Releases Draft Study on Property Remediation Related to Smoke, Soot, and Ash

The Colorado General Assembly has recognized that property damage related to wildfires is not limited to total loss. Homeowners have also experienced partial loss as a result of damage from smoke, soot, and ash. HB 24-1315 required the Colorado Division of Insurance to study these issues and provide recommendations.

The Division has completed that study and released its draft Study on Remediation of Property Damaged by Fire concerning smoke, soot, ash, and other particulates affecting residential properties after fire events. The report synthesizes public comments received by homeowners, identifies partial-loss fire recovery policy issues, and makes recommendations for future legislation.

Insurers who write homeowner policies in Colorado may want to provide input on this issue. The Division will host a virtual stakeholder meeting to discuss the draft study on September 8, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm MDT.  Stakeholders can register here for the September 8 meeting. Comments on the study are due by Friday, September 11 at 5:00 pm and may be submitted to DORA_Ins_ruleandrecords@state.co.us.

Reach out to the Regulatory and Government Affairs team at Hall & Evans to engage in the rulemaking process on your behalf.