Providing relief to Washington consumers from December 2025 atmospheric river and winter weather event

PATTY KUDERER

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

STATE OF WASHINGTON

OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Phone: 360-725-7000

www.insurance.wa.gov

Mailing Address: PO Box 40255 Olympia, WA 98504-0255

Street Address: 5000 Capitol Blvd Tumwater, WA 98501

EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 25-01

TO:

ALL INSURERS AUTHORIZED OR ADMITTED TO TRANSACT

PROPERTY AND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE BUSINESS IN

WASHINGTON STATE AND ALL ENTITIES REGULATED BY THE

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

FROM:

PATTY KUDERER, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

RE:

PROVIDING RELIEF TO WASHINGTON CONSUMERS FROM 2025

ATMOSPHERIC RIVER AND WINTER WEATHER EVENT BY

ADDRESSING GRACE PERIODS FOR NONPAYMENT OF PREMIUM

AND TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING CANCELLATION AND

NONRENEWAL OF PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE

POLICIES

PURSUANT TO RCW 48.02.060(4), the Insurance Commissioner of the state of Washington

(“Insurance Commissioner”) orders all insurers, insurance producers, surplus line brokers, and other

entities regulated by the Insurance Commissioner (hereafter “Regulated Entities”), as follows:

A. Between December 15, 2025, and February 12, 2026, all Regulated Entities transacting any

property and automobile insurance business shall provide grace periods of no less than

forty-five (45) days for nonpayment of premium and shall waive otherwise applicable

charges and fees associated with nonpayment of premium, such as late fees and

reinstatement fees.

B. Between December 15, 2025, and February 12, 2026, no property and automobile insurer

shall cancel a policy issued for nonpayment of premium, unless specifically directed to do

so by the insured.

C. Between December 15, 2025, and February 12, 2026, the 45-day notice period for

nonrenewal notices in RCW 48.18.2901(1)(a)(i) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No property and automobile insurer shall issue a notice of nonrenewal less

than 120 days before the expiration date of the policy.

sued for nonpayment of premium, unless specifically directed to do

so by the insured.

C. Between December 15, 2025, and February 12, 2026, the 45-day notice period for

nonrenewal notices in RCW 48.18.2901(1)(a)(i) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No property and automobile insurer shall issue a notice of nonrenewal less

than 120 days before the expiration date of the policy.

OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Emergency Order No. 25-01

Re: Providing Relief to Washington Consumers from December 2025 Atmospheric River and

Winter Weather Event

Page 2

BASIS

1. On December 10, 2025, the Governor issued Proclamation 25-07 declaring an emergency

related to the December Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event. The proclamation

provides in pertinent part as follows (emphasis added):

I, Bob Ferguson, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-noted

situation and under Chapters 38.52 and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that a State of

Emergency exists throughout the entire state of Washington, and direct that the plans and

procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be

implemented. State agencies and departments are directed to utilize state resources in

accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and

to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to

respond to and recover from this extreme weather event.

2. The geographical extent of this emergency order is all areas of the state affected by

flooding, landslides, mudslides, bank erosion, or wind damage as a result of the

Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event of December 2025 including, but not

limited to, Whatcom County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, King County, and

Lewis County.

3

ond to and recover from this extreme weather event.

2. The geographical extent of this emergency order is all areas of the state affected by

flooding, landslides, mudslides, bank erosion, or wind damage as a result of the

Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event of December 2025 including, but not

limited to, Whatcom County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, King County, and

Lewis County.

3. The December 2025 Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event has harmed or

threatened to harm the property, safety and welfare of Washington citizens who have lost

homes and other property or whose lives or employment have been otherwise disrupted

by the December 2025 Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event in the state of

Washington.

4. RCW 48.02.060(4)(b) & (c) provides in pertinent part that, when the Governor proclaims a

state of emergency under RCW 43.06.010(12), the Insurance Commissioner may issue an

order that addresses any or all of the following matters related to insurance policies issued

in this state: (b) grace periods for payment of insurance premiums and performance of other

duties by insureds; and (c) temporary postponement of cancellations or nonrenewals.

5. RCW 48.02.060(5) provides that an order by the Insurance Commissioner under subsection

(4) of this section may remain effective for not more than sixty (60) days unless the

Insurance Commissioner extends the termination date for the order for an additional period

of not more than thirty (30) days. The Insurance Commissioner may extend the order if, in

the Insurance Commissioner’s judgment, the circumstances warrant an extension. An order

of the Insurance Commissioner under subsection (4) of this section is not effective after the

related state of emergency is terminated by proclamation of the Governor under RCW

43.06.210

order for an additional period

of not more than thirty (30) days. The Insurance Commissioner may extend the order if, in

the Insurance Commissioner’s judgment, the circumstances warrant an extension. An order

of the Insurance Commissioner under subsection (4) of this section is not effective after the

related state of emergency is terminated by proclamation of the Governor under RCW

43.06.210. The order must specify, by line of insurance: (a) the geographic areas in which

the order applies, which must be within but may be less extensive than the geographic area

specified in the Governor’s proclamation of a state of emergency and must be specific

according to an appropriate means of delineation, such as the United States postal service

zip codes or other appropriate means; and

(b) the date on which the order becomes effective and the date on which the order terminates.

6. Emergency action by the Insurance Commissioner is necessary to protect the property,

safety, and welfare of Washington citizens affected by the December 2025 Atmospheric

River and Winter Weather Event in the state of Washington.

OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Emergency Order No. 25-01

Re: Providing Relief to Washington Consumers from December 2025 Atmospheric River and

Winter Weather Event

Page 3

ORDER

NOW, THEREFORE, the Insurance Commissioner hereby activates the provisions of

RCW 48.02.060(4)(b) & (c) in order to protect the property, safety and welfare of Washington

citizens affected by the December 2025 Atmospheric River and Winter Weather Event in the state

of Washington, as set forth above.

This Order shall remain in effect until February 12, 2026, subject to the further order of the

Insurance Commissioner extending its effect.

THIS ORDER IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND IS ENTERED at Olympia, Washington,

this 15th day of December, 2025.

PATTY KUDERER

Insurance Commissioner