On February 9, Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro reissued Bulletin No. 151 from April 2025, reminding all property and casualty insurers doing business in Delaware that compliance with the geographic allocation reporting requirements under 18 Del. C. § 705 is mandatory, and that carriers are expected to take immediate action to ensure their internal processes fully support full compliance with Section 705.
Effective dates referenced in Bulletin No. 151 are as follows: the geographic information system (GIS) reporting requirement applies beginning with the premium tax report of calendar year 2023; legislative amendments to 18 Del. C. § 705 enacted through HB 371 took effect on January 1, 2025; insurer reporting under Section 705 is due annually by March 1; the Delaware Department of Insurance’s own reporting deadline to the State Treasurer is extended to May 15; and State Treasurer payments to the State Insurance Coverage Office are due no later than July 15. The bulletin also states that it “shall be effective immediately” and remain in effect unless withdrawn or superseded, without specifying the calendar date of the February 2026 reissuance.
The Delaware Department of Insurance directs companies writing lines listed in Working Form T-5 to use electronic GIS tracking software to allocate and report premiums on Delaware risks across the City of Wilmington, New Castle County outside Wilmington, Kent County and Sussex County, and states that this method will remain in effect unless otherwise instructed. The bulletin warns that reliance solely on zip codes can lead to misclassification, noting that, effective January 1, 2025, “City of Wilmington” is defined as zip codes 19801, 19802, 19805 and 19806 and that the Commissioner expects Working Form T-5 to show higher premiums for New Castle County outside Wilmington where appropriate.
For insurers, underwriters, MGAs, brokers and compliance teams operating in Delaware, the Delaware Department of Insurance underscores that failure to provide information requested under Section 705 by March 1 may result in regulatory review and potential enforcement action under 18 Del. C. §§ 329 and 520, and highlights HB 371’s revised framework for calculating and distributing fire company funding, updated insurer reporting, and additional reporting obligations for the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association to both the State Fire Prevention Commission and the Insurance Commissioner.
