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Michigan Lawmakers Move To End Breed-Based Restrictions In Home Insurance
Russ Survance
Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:27:19 EST
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A proposal introduced in the Michigan House would prevent insurance companies from making homeowners insurance decisions based solely on the breed of a dog living at a property.
House Bill 5580, introduced by State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, and backed by 20 Democratic co-sponsors, was recently referred to the House Committee on Insurance for consideration. The legislation targets what supporters describe as discriminatory underwriting practices tied to certain dog breeds.
If enacted, the measure would prohibit insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, refusing renewals, increasing premiums, or adding policy exclusions simply because of a dog's breed or mixed breed. Insurance companies also would be barred from asking policyholders to identify a dog's breed when issuing or renewing residential property liability coverage.
The bill would apply broadly to residential property liability insurance policies across the state, including single-family homes, condominiums, apartments, cooperative housing units and multi-unit residential buildings.
In a statement announcing the legislation, Tsernoglou said behavior and temperament are shaped more by training and responsible ownership than by breed alone. She argued that assumptions about certain breeds being inherently aggressive are not supported by evidence.
The proposal would not prevent insurers from adjusting rates or denying coverage for legitimate risk-related reasons, as long as those decisions are based on actuarial data and underwriting standards unrelated to breed.
The bill now awaits hearings and potential amendments in committee before it can advance in the legislative process.
