Connecticut Senator Says Surcharge to Help Homeowners Is Not Dead

A key Connecticut lawmaker says a proposed surcharge on insurance policies to raise money to help homeowners with crumbling foundations is not a dead issue.

Senator Cathy Osten, the Democratic Senate chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said Friday “the surcharge will come out again” this session, despite the Judiciary Committee defeating legislation last week on a 24-16 vote.

Eastern and central Connecticut homeowners with foundations crumbling because of an iron sulfide are angry lawmakers defeated legislation imposing a $20 surcharge on every homeowner policy issued in Connecticut to create an assistance fund.

The bill also would have required insurers to cover “peril of collapse,” which the industry says raises costs for everyone.

Lawmakers last year approved $100 million that still needs to be distributed, but homeowners say more is needed.

Related:

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• Federal Officials Study Connecticut Crumbling Foundations
• Connecticut Insurers: Homes Must Fall Down to be Eligible for Coverage
• Connecticut Lawmakers Urged to Help Crumbling Foundation Homeowners
• Connecticut AG Says 4 Insurers Agree to Financing Fix for Crumbling Concrete Foundations
• Conn. Warns Insurers Not to Terminate Home Policies Over Foundation Problems
• Bonding Awarded to Launch Crumbling Foundations Entity in Connecticut
• Connecticut Homeowners Ask Legislature for Assistance on Bad Foundations