Senate Bill Report - SB 6248, Travel Insurance (As of January 26, 2026)
Summary
This Senate Bill Report on SB 6248, an act relating to travel insurance, is dated as of January 26, 2026, and records Business, Trade & Economic Development committee activity on 1/28/26. The sponsors are Senators Stanford, Dozier, Hasegawa, Kauffman and Nobles. The brief summary says the bill provides licensure and registration requirements, duties, and restrictions on entities transacting travel insurance and provides rate filing requirements with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Travel insurance is classified and filed for purposes of rates and forms under an inland marine line of insurance. The chapter may be known and cited as the Washington Travel Insurance Act, and the bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6248
As of January 26, 2026
Title: An act relating to travel insurance.
Brief Description: Addressing travel insurance.
Sponsors: Senators Stanford, Dozier, Hasegawa, Kauffman and Nobles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 1/28/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
• Provides licensure and registration requirements, duties, and restrictions
on entities transacting travel insurance.
• Specifies how travel insurance and travel protection plans may be
offered.
• Specifies the application of the insurance premium tax on travel
insurance.
• Provides rate filing requirements for travel insurance with the Office of
the Insurance Commissioner.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Staff: John Kim (786-7453)
Background: Regulation of Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is regulated in this state by
rules adopted by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). The rules define travel
insurance as insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned travel including, but
not limited to:
• interruption or cancellation of a trip or an event;
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.
Senate Bill Report -1- SB 6248
• loss of baggage or personal effects;
• damages to accommodations or rental vehicles; or
• sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during limited duration travel.
The rules prohibit a person from selling, soliciting, or negotiating travel insurance in this
state unless the person is licensed as an insurance producer with the travel limited line of
authority. Travel retailers who offer and disseminate travel insurance on behalf of and under
a travel insurance producer business entity license must comply with certain requirements,
including that the travel insurance producer must, in part:
• hold a business entity license;
• make certain disclosures on marketing materials and fulfillment packages distributed
by travel retailers to customers;
• keep a register of each travel retailer that offers travel insurance on the licensed
business entity's behalf;
• comply with fingerprinting requirements and pay all applicable insurance producer
licensing fees; and
• require each employee of the travel retailer whose duties include offering and
disseminating travel insurance to receive a program of instruction or training.
Travel Insurance Model Act. The Travel Insurance Model Act is a model law regulating
travel insurance products. The Travel Insurance Model Act was originally produced by the
National Council of Insurance Legislators in 2012, followed by updates in 2017. According
to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as of summer 2025, 34 states have
adopted the Travel Insurance Model Act and four other states have adopted portions of the
Travel Insurance Model Act.
Summary of Bill: The bill substantially adopts the Travel Insurance Model Act.
Definition of Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is defined as insurance coverage for
personal risks incident to planned travel, including:
• interruption or cancellation of trip or event;
• loss of baggage or personal effects;
• damages to accommodations or rental vehicles;
• sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during travel, provided that the
health benefits are not offered on a stand-alone basis and are incidental to other
coverage;
• emergency evacuation;
• repatriation of remains; or
• any other contractual obligations to indemnify or pay a specified amount to the
traveler upon determinable contingencies related to travel as approved by the OIC.
Travel insurance does not include major medical plans that provide comprehensive medical
protection for travelers with trips lasting longer than six months, including, for example,
those working or residing overseas as an expatriate, or any other product that requires a
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specific insurance producer license. The bill excludes travel insurance from the definition of
health plan or health benefit plan under health insurance statutes.
Travel Administrators. A travel administrator is defined as a person who directly or
indirectly underwrites, collects charges, collateral, or premiums from, or adjusts or settles
claims on residents of this state, in connection with travel insurance. A person is not a travel
administrator if that person's only actions that would otherwise cause it to be considered a
travel administrator are among the following:
• a person working for a travel administrator to the extent that the person's activities are
subject to the supervision and control of the travel administrator;
• an insurance producer selling insurance or engaged in administrative and claims-
related activities within the scope of the producer's license;
• a travel retailer offering and disseminating travel insurance and registered under the
license of a limited lines travel insurance producer in accordance with this chapter;
• an individual adjusting or settling claims in the normal course of that individual's
practice or employment as an attorney-at-law and who does not collect charges or
premiums in connection with insurance coverage; or
• a business entity that is affiliated with a licensed insurer while acting as a travel
administrator for the direct and assumed insurance business of an insurer.
Licensure. A person may not act or represent itself as a travel administrator for travel
insurance in this state unless that person is a licensed property and casualty insurance
producer in this state for activities permitted under that producer license. A travel
administrator and its employees are exempt from licensing requirements for adjusters for
travel insurance it administers.
Insurer Responsibility for Travel Administrators. An insurer is responsible for the acts of a
travel administrator administering travel insurance underwritten by the insurer and is
responsible for ensuring that the travel administrator maintains all books and records
relevant to the insurer to be made available by the travel administrator to the OIC upon
request.
Limited Lines Travel Insurance Producers. A limited lines travel insurance producer is
defined as a licensed insurance producer, including a licensed limited lines producer of
travel insurance; or a travel administrator.
Licensure. The OIC may issue a limited lines travel insurance producer license to an
individual or business entity applicant that applies in a form and manner prescribed by OIC.
Such limited lines travel insurance producer must be licensed to sell, solicit, or negotiate
travel insurance through an authorized insurer. The bill provides that a limited lines travel
insurance producer must pay all applicable licensing fees as set forth in applicable state law.
Register of Travel Retailers. At the time of licensure, the limited lines travel insurance
producer must establish and maintain a register, on a form prescribed by the OIC, of each
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travel retailer that offers travel insurance on the limited lines travel insurance producer's
behalf. The register must be maintained and updated by the limited lines travel insurance
producer and must include the name, address, and contact information of the travel retailer
and an officer or person who directs or controls the travel retailer's operations, and the
travel retailer's federal tax identification number. The limited lines travel insurance
producer must submit such register to the OIC annually. The limited lines travel insurance
producer must certify that the travel retailer registered complies with federal restrictions on
crimes by or affecting persons engaged in the business of insurance. The grounds for the
suspension, revocation, and penalties applicable to resident insurance producers apply to the
limited lines travel insurance producers and travel retailers.
As the insurer's designee, the limited lines travel insurance producer is responsible for the
acts of the travel retailer and must ensure compliance by the travel retailer with the
requirements created by the bill.
Requirement to Designate a Compliance Person. A limited lines travel insurance producer
must designate one of its employees, who is a licensed individual producer, as the person
responsible for the compliance with the travel insurance laws and regulations applicable to
the limited lines travel insurance producer and its registrants.
Fingerprinting Requirement. The designated employee, president, secretary, treasurer, and
any other officer or person who directs or controls the limited lines travel insurance
producer's insurance operations must comply with the fingerprinting requirements
applicable to insurance producers in the resident state of the limited lines travel insurance
producer.
Employee Training Requirement. The limited lines travel insurance producer must require
each employee and authorized representative of the travel retailer whose duties include
offering and disseminating travel insurance to receive a program of instruction or training,
which is subject, at the discretion of the OIC, to review and approval. The training material
must, at a minimum, contain adequate instructions on the types of insurance offered, ethical
sales practices, and required disclosures to prospective customers.
Travel Retailers. A travel retailer is defined as a business entity that makes, arranges, or
offers planned travel and may offer and disseminate travel insurance as a service to its
customers on behalf of and under the direction of a limited lines travel insurance producer.
A travel retailer that meets the conditions of the bill may receive related compensation.
Disclosure Requirements. The limited lines travel insurance producer or travel retailer must
provide to purchasers of travel insurance:
• a description of the material terms or the actual material terms of the insurance
coverage;
• a description of the process for filing a claim;
• a description of the review or cancellation process for the travel insurance policy; and
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• the identity and contact information of the insurer and limited lines travel insurance
producer.
Any travel retailer offering or disseminating travel insurance must make available to
prospective purchasers brochures or other written materials that have been approved by the
travel insurer. Such materials must include information that, at a minimum:
• provides the identity and contact information of the insurer and the limited lines
travel insurance producer;
• explains that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any
other product or service from the travel retailer; and
• explains that an unlicensed travel retailer is permitted to provide only general
information about the insurance offered by the travel retailer, including a description
of the coverage and price, but is not qualified or authorized to answer technical
questions about the terms and conditions of the insurance offered by the travel retailer
or to evaluate the adequacy of the customer's existing insurance coverage.
Restrictions. A travel retailer employee or authorized representative who is not licensed as
an insurance producer may not:
• evaluate or interpret the technical terms, benefits, and conditions of the offered travel
insurance coverage;
• evaluate or provide advice concerning a prospective purchaser's existing insurance
coverage; or
• hold themself or itself out as an authorized insurer, licensed producer, or insurance
expert.
Applicability of Insurance Premium Tax. A travel insurer must pay the state insurance
premium tax on travel insurance premiums paid by any of the following:
• an individual primary policyholder who is a resident of this state;
• a primary certificate holder who is a resident of this state who elects coverage under a
group travel insurance policy; or
• a blanket travel insurance policyholder that is a resident in, or has its principal place
of business or the principal place of business of an affiliate or subsidiary that has
purchased blanket travel insurance in this state for eligible blanket group members,
subject to any apportionment rules that apply to the insurer across multiple taxing
jurisdictions or that permit the insurer to allocate premium on an apportioned basis in
a reasonable and equitable manner in those jurisdictions.
A travel insurer must document the state of residence or principal place of business of the
policyholder or certificate holder and report as premium only the amount allocable to travel
insurance and not any amounts received for travel assistance services, cancellation fee
waivers, or other noninsurance services.
Group Travel Insurance. Group travel insurance is defined as travel insurance issued to any
eligible group. An eligible group is defined as two or more persons who are engaged in a
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common enterprise, or have an economic, educational, or social affinity or relationship
including, but not limited to, any of the following:
• any entity engaged in the business of providing travel or travel services including, but
not limited to: tour operators, lodging providers, vacation property owners, hotels and
resorts, travel clubs, travel agencies, property managers, cultural exchange programs,
and common carriers or the operator, owner, or lessor of a means of transportation of
passengers including, but not limited to, airlines, cruise lines, railroads, steamship
companies, and public bus carriers, wherein with regard to any particular travel or
type of travel or travelers, all members or customers of the group must have a
common exposure to risk attendant to such travel;
• any college, school, or other institution of learning, covering students, teachers,
employees, or volunteers;
• any employer covering any group of employees, volunteers, contractors, board of
directors, dependents, or guests;
• any sports team, camp, or sponsor thereof, covering participants, members, campers,
employees, officials, supervisors, or volunteers;
• any religious, charitable, recreational, educational, or civic organization, or branch
thereof, covering any group of members, participants, or volunteers;
• any financial institution or financial institution vendor, or parent holding company,
trustee, or agent of or designated by one or more financial institutions or financial
institution vendors, including account holders, credit card holders, debtors,
guarantors, or purchasers;
• any incorporated or unincorporated association, including labor unions, having a
common interest, constitution and bylaws, and organized and maintained in good
faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance for members or participants of such
association covering its members;
• any trust or the trustees of a fund established, created, or maintained for the benefit of
and covering members, employees, or customers, subject to the commissioner
permitting the use of a trust and the state's premium tax provisions of one or more
associations meeting certain requirements;
• any entertainment production company covering any group of participants,
volunteers, audience members, contestants, or workers;
• any volunteer fire department, ambulance, rescue, police, court, or any first aid, civil
defense, or other such volunteer group;
• preschools, day care institutions for children or adults, and senior citizen clubs;
• any automobile or truck rental or leasing company covering a group of individuals
who may become renters, lessees, or passengers defined by their travel status on the
rented or leased vehicles, subject to the requirement that the common carrier,
operator, owner, or lessor of a means of transportation, or the automobile or truck
rental or leasing company, is the policyholder under a policy to which this chapter
applies; or
• any other group where the OIC has determined that the members are engaged in a
common enterprise, or have an economic, educational, or social affinity or
relationship, and that issuance of the policy would not be contrary to the public
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interest.
Blanket Travel Insurance. Blanket travel insurance is defined as a policy of travel insurance
issued to any eligible group providing coverage for specific classes of persons defined in the
policy with coverage provided to all members of the eligible group without a separate
charge to individual members of the eligible group.
Pricing of Travel Protection Plans. A travel protection plan is defined as a plan that provides
one or more of the following: travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation
fee waivers.
Travel protection plans may be offered for one price for the combined features that the
travel protection plan offers in this state if:
• the travel protection plan clearly discloses to the consumer, at or prior to the time of
purchase, that it includes travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation
fee waivers as applicable, and provides information and an opportunity, at or prior to
the time of purchase, for the consumer to obtain additional information regarding the
features and pricing of each; and
• the fulfillment materials describe and delineate the travel insurance, travel assistance
services, and cancellation fee waivers in the travel protection plan; and include the
travel insurance disclosures and the contact information for persons providing travel
assistance services, and cancellation fee waivers, as applicable.
Travel assistance services are defined as noninsurance services for which the consumer is
not indemnified based on a fortuitous event, and where providing the service does not result
in transfer or shifting of risk that would constitute the business of insurance. They include,
but but are not limited to: security advisories, destination information, vaccination and
immunization information services, travel reservation services, entertainment, activity and
event planning, translation assistance, emergency messaging, international legal and
medical referrals, medical case monitoring, coordination of transportation arrangements,
emergency cash transfer assistance, medical prescription replacement assistance, passport
and travel document replacement assistance, lost luggage assistance, concierge services, and
any other service that is furnished in connection with planned travel. The bill specifies
travel assistance services are not insurance and are not related to insurance.
A cancellation fee waiver is defined as a contractual agreement between a supplier of travel
services and its customer to waive some or all of the nonrefundable cancellation fee
provisions of the supplier's underlying travel contract with or without regard to the reason
for the cancellation or form of reimbursement. The bill specifies a cancellation fee waiver is
not insurance.
Unfair Practices. All persons offering travel insurance to residents of this state are subject to
existing prohibitions on unfair practices in the Washington Insurance Code, except as
otherwise provided. The bill specifies additional unfair practices with respect to travel
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insurance:
• offering or selling a travel insurance policy that could never result in payment of any
claims for any insured under the policy; or
• marketing blanket travel insurance coverage as free.
A person offering, soliciting, or negotiating travel insurance or travel protection plans on an
individual or group basis may not do so by using a negative option or opt out, which would
require a consumer to take an affirmative action to deselect coverage, such as unchecking a
box on an electronic form, when the consumer purchases a trip.
The bill provides that where a consumer's destination jurisdiction requires insurance
coverage, it is not an unfair trade practice to require that a consumer choose between the
following options as a condition of purchasing a trip or travel package:
• purchasing the coverage required by the destination jurisdiction through the travel
retailer or limited lines travel insurance producer supplying the trip or travel package;
or
• agreeing to obtain and provide proof of coverage that meets the destination
jurisdiction's requirements prior to departure.
Marketing Requirements. The bill specifies the following requirements in marketing travel
insurance:
• all documents provided to consumers prior to the purchase of travel insurance
including, but not limited to, sales materials, advertising materials, and marketing
materials, must be consistent with the travel insurance policy itself, including, but not
limited to, forms, endorsements, policies, rate filings, and certificates of insurance;
• for travel insurance policies or certificates that contain preexisting condition
exclusions, information and an opportunity to learn more about the preexisting
condition exclusions must be provided any time prior to the time of purchase and in
the coverage's fulfillment materials;
• the fulfillment materials and disclosure materials must be provided to a policyholder
or certificate holder as soon as practicable following the purchase of a travel
protection plan;
• the company must disclose in the policy documentation and fulfillment materials
whether the travel insurance is primary or secondary to other applicable coverage;
and
• where travel insurance is marketed directly to a consumer through an insurer's
website or by others through an aggregator site, it is not an unfair trade practice or
other violation of law where an accurate summary or short description of coverage is
provided on the web page, so long as the consumer has access to the full provisions of
the policy through electronic means.
Fulfillment materials are defined as documentation sent to the purchaser of a travel
protection plan confirming the purchase and providing the travel protection plan's coverage
and assistance details.
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An aggregator site is defined as a website that provides access to information regarding
insurance products from more than one insurer, including product and insurer information,
for use in comparison shopping.
Right of Cancellation. Unless the insured has either started a covered trip or filed a claim
under the travel insurance coverage, a policyholder or certificate holder may cancel a policy
or certificate for a full refund of the travel protection plan price from the date of purchase of
a travel protection plan until at least:
• 15 days following the date of delivery of the travel protection plan's fulfillment
materials by postal mail; or
• 10 days following the date of delivery of the travel protection plan's fulfillment
materials by means other than postal mail. Delivery is defined as handing fulfillment
materials to the policyholder or certificate holder or sending fulfillment materials by
postal mail or electronic means to the policyholder or certificate holder.
Rate Filings for Travel Insurance. The bill specifies that travel insurance is classified and
filed for purposes of rates and forms under an inland marine line of insurance. Travel
insurance that provides coverage for sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during
travel, either exclusively, or in conjunction with related coverages of emergency evacuation
or repatriation of remains, or incidental limited property and casualty benefits such as
baggage or trip cancellation, may be filed under either an accident and health line of
insurance or an inland marine line of insurance. The rates and forms filings per product may
only be filed under one line of insurance.
Travel insurance may be in the form of an individual, group, or blanket policy.
Eligibility and underwriting standards for travel insurance may be developed and provided
based on travel protection plans designed for individual or identified marketing or
distribution channels, provided those standards also meet the state's underwriting standards
for inland marine.
Rulemaking. The OIC may adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer this
chapter and must repeal existing rules pertaining to travel insurance that are inconsistent
with the bill's provisions.
Short Title. The chapter created by the bill may be known and cited as the Washington
Travel Insurance Act.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2026.
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Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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