Senate Bill Report — SHB 1078, Pet Insurance (Senate Committee, February 16, 2026)

Summary

This is the Senate Bill Report on SHB 1078, as of February 16, 2026, for the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development, with committee activity dated 2/18/26. The title is an act relating to pet insurance, and the report states the bill passed the House on 2/10/26, 95-0. Its brief summary says the bill prohibits pet insurers from cancelling or nonrenewing pet insurance policies based on the age or certain health conditions of the pet, and specifies requirements for moving policyholders from one affiliated company to another. The background notes that in 2023, the Legislature enacted a law regulating pet insurance.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                 SHB 1078

                                     As of February 16, 2026

Title: An act relating to pet insurance.

Brief Description: Concerning pet insurance.

Sponsors: House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business (originally sponsored by
    Representatives Walen, Ryu, Leavitt, Callan, Farivar, Berg and Donaghy).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/10/26, 95-0.
     Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 2/18/26.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Prohibits pet insurers from cancelling or nonrenewing pet insurance
             policies based on the age or certain health conditions of the pet.
           • Specifies requirements for, and restrictions on, pet insurers when moving
             policyholders from one affiliated company to another.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

     Staff: John Kim (786-7453)

     Background: In 2023, the Legislature enacted a law regulating pet insurance. Pet
     insurance is defined as a property insurance policy that provides coverage for accidents and
     illnesses of pets.

     Pet Insurance Coverage Exclusions. A pet insurer must disclose to consumers if the policy
     excludes coverage due to any of the following:
         • a preexisting condition;
         • a hereditary disorder;
         • a congenital anomoly or congenital disorder;




     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-                                        SHB 1078
         • a chronic condition; or
         • other exclusions.

     A pet insurer may issue policies that exclude coverage on the basis of one or more
     preexisting conditions with appropriate disclosure to the consumer. The pet insurer has the
     burden of proving that the preexisting condition exclusion applies to the condition for which
     a claim is being made. A condition for which coverage is afforded on a policy cannot be
     considered a preexisting condition on any renewal of the policy.

     The following are defined:
        • a preexisting condition means any condition for which any of the following are true
           prior to the effective date of a pet insurance policy or during any waiting period:
                1. a veterinarian provided medical advice;
                2. the pet received previous treatment; or
                3. based on information from verifiable sources, the pet had signs or symptoms
                   directly related to the condition for which a claim is being made;
        • a hereditary disorder means an abnormality that is genetically transmitted from parent
           to offspring and may cause illness or disease;
        • congenital anomaly and congenital disorder mean a condition that is present from
           birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, which may cause or contribute
           to illness or disease; and
        • a chronic condition means a condition that can be treated or managed, but not cured.

     Waiting Periods. A pet insurer may issue policies that impose waiting periods upon
     effectuation of the policy that do not exceed 30 days for illnesses or orthopedic conditions
     not resulting from an accident. Waiting periods may not be applied to accidents or to
     renewals of existing coverage. The insurer may include a policy provision that allows
     waiting periods to be waived upon completion of a medical examination. A pet insurer may
     not require a veterinary examination of the covered pet for the insured to have their policy
     renewed.

     Orthopedic conditions are those affecting the bones, skeletal muscle, cartilage, tendons,
     ligaments, and joints. They include, but are not limited to, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia,
     intervertebral disc degeneration, patellar luxation, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments.
     They do not include cancers or metabolic, hemopoietic, or autoimmune diseases.

     Other Required Disclosures. A pet insurer must disclose to consumers any policy provision
     that limits coverage through a waiting or affiliation period, a deductible, coinsurance, or an
     annual or lifetime policy limit.

     The pet insurer must disclose whether the pet insurer reduces coverage or increases
     premiums based on the insured's claim history, the age of the covered pet, or a change in the
     geographic location of the insured.



Senate Bill Report                             -2-                                       SHB 1078
     Summary of Bill: Restriction on Cancellations or Non-renewals of Pet Insurance Policies.
     A pet insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew a pet insurance policy based on any of the
     following:
         • the covered pet's age;
         • the detection or development of a health condition with the covered pet during a
           covered policy period due to a chronic condition, an orthopedic condition, a
           congenital anomaly, or a hereditary disorder; or
         • the detection of a preexisting condition with the covered pet.

     Requirements and Restrictions in Moving Policyholders Between Affiliated Companies. If
     a pet insurer moves a pet insurance policyholder from one affiliated company to another
     affiliated company, current policyholders' existing policies must be honored through their
     expiration dates by the replacement affiliated company. Current policyholders must receive
     an offer of insurance from the replacement affiliated company, and the replacement
     affiliated company may not do any of the following:
         • impose a waiting period on the new policy;
         • require a veterinary examination of the covered pet in order to issue or subsequently
            renew the policy; or
         • cancel, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the new pet insurance policy for any reason
            described above.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on February 12, 2026.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.




Senate Bill Report                             -3-                                       SHB 1078


File and source

File

2026-02-18_a33946_d296841_1078-s-sba-bte-26.pdf

Size

58,191 bytes

SHA-256

6f22d90a0786ce8a12e134c000ae98b075bbc009084249693a98535888a847c1

Our copy

2026-02-18_a33946_d296841_1078-s-sba-bte-26.pdf

Original

No public link identified.