{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/27-85.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/27-85.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/27-85.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/27-85.5.html"}],"law_id":356407,"edition_id":2,"section_id":356407,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.5","catch_line":"Disclosure of information","history":"1979, c. 279.","full_text":"A\n\nAny authorized agency may, in writing, require an insurance company to release to the requesting agency any or all relevant information or evidence deemed material by the requesting agency in the insurance company’s possession relating to the fire loss in question. Relevant information may include, but shall not be limited to:\n\n1\n\nPertinent insurance policy information relevant to a fire loss under investigation and any application for such a policy;\n\n2\n\nPolicy premium payment records;\n\n3\n\nHistory of previous claims made by the insured;\n\n4\n\nMaterial relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and any other evidence relevant to the investigation.\n\nB\n\n1. When an insurance company has reason to believe that a fire loss in which it has an interest may be of other than accidental cause, then, for the purpose of notification and for having such fire loss investigated, the company shall, in writing, notify an authorized agency and provide it with any or all material developed from the company’s inquiry into the fire loss.\n\n2\n\nWhen an insurance company provides any one of the authorized agencies with notice of a fire loss, it shall be sufficient notice for the purpose of this article.\n\nC\n\nThe authorized agency provided with information pursuant to subsections A or B of this section and in furtherance of its own purposes, may release or provide such information to any of the other authorized agencies.\n\nD\n\nAny insurance company providing information to an authorized agency or agencies pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall have the right to request relevant information and receive, within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days, the information requested.\n\nE\n\nAny insurance company, or person acting in its behalf or authorized agency who releases information, whether oral or written, pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall be immune from any liability arising out of a civil action, or penalty resulting from a criminal prosecution unless actual malice on the part of the insurance company or authorized agency is present.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1326877,"text":"Any authorized agency may, in writing, require an insurance company to release to the requesting agency any or all relevant information or evidence deemed material by the requesting agency in the insurance company’s possession relating to the fire loss in question. Relevant information may include, but shall not be limited to:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1326878,"text":"Pertinent insurance policy information relevant to a fire loss under investigation and any application for such a policy;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1326879,"text":"Policy premium payment records;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1326880,"text":"History of previous claims made by the insured;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":1326881,"text":"Material relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and any other evidence relevant to the investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":1326882,"text":"1. When an insurance company has reason to believe that a fire loss in which it has an interest may be of other than accidental cause, then, for the purpose of notification and for having such fire loss investigated, the company shall, in writing, notify an authorized agency and provide it with any or all material developed from the company’s inquiry into the fire loss.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"B2"},"6":{"id":1326883,"text":"When an insurance company provides any one of the authorized agencies with notice of a fire loss, it shall be sufficient notice for the purpose of this article.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C"},"7":{"id":1326884,"text":"The authorized agency provided with information pursuant to subsections A or B of this section and in furtherance of its own purposes, may release or provide such information to any of the other authorized agencies.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"D"},"8":{"id":1326885,"text":"Any insurance company providing information to an authorized agency or agencies pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall have the right to request relevant information and receive, within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days, the information requested.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"9":{"id":1326886,"text":"Any insurance company, or person acting in its behalf or authorized agency who releases information, whether oral or written, pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall be immune from any liability arising out of a civil action, or penalty resulting from a criminal prosecution unless actual malice on the part of the insurance company or authorized agency is present.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50991,"edition_id":2,"name":"Arson Reporting Immunity Act","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":50988,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:00","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:41","permalink":{"id":1417487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50991,"identifier":"3","token":"27\/6\/3","url":"\/27\/6\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50988,"edition_id":2,"name":"Department of State Police; Public Building Safety Law; Arson Reporting Immunity Act","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":6,"parent_id":50974,"metadata":{"child_laws":34,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:55","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:40","permalink":{"id":1417361,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50988,"identifier":"6","token":"27\/6","url":"\/27\/6\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50974,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fire Protection","identifier":"27","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":68,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":146,"child_structures":19},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:35:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:38","permalink":{"id":1416967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50974,"identifier":"27","token":"27","url":"\/27\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":356405,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.3","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/27-85.3\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.3","metadata":false},{"id":356406,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.4","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/27-85.4\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.4","metadata":false},{"id":356407,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.5","catch_line":"Disclosure of information","url":"\/27-85.5\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.5","metadata":false},{"id":356408,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.6","catch_line":"Evidence","url":"\/27-85.6\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.6","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":356406,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.4","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/27-85.4\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":356408,"structure_id":50991,"section_number":"27-85.6","catch_line":"Evidence","url":"\/27-85.6\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-85.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 279 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":356408,"section_number":"27-85.6","catch_line":"Evidence","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-85.6\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1417497,"object_type":"law","relational_id":356407,"identifier":"27-85.5","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.5","url":"\/27-85.5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-85.5\/","token":"27\/6\/3\/27-85.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Disclosure of information","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-85.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any authorized agency may, in writing, require an insurance company<\/span> to release to the requesting agency any or all relevant information or evidence<\/span> deemed material<\/span> by the requesting agency in the insurance company<\/span>’s possession<\/span> relating to the fire loss in question. Relevant information may include, but shall not be limited to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Pertinent insurance policy information relevant to a fire loss under investigation and any application for such a policy; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Policy premium payment records; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> History of previous claims made by the insured; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Material<\/span> relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and any other evidence<\/span> relevant to the investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> 1. When an insurance company<\/span> has reason to believe that a fire loss in which it has an interest may be of other than accidental cause, then, for the purpose of notification and for having such fire loss investigated, the company shall, in writing, notify an authorized agency and provide it with any or all material<\/span> developed from the company’s inquiry into the fire loss. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> When an insurance company<\/span> provides any one of the authorized agencies with notice of a fire loss, it shall be sufficient notice for the purpose of this article. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The authorized agency provided with information pursuant to subsections A or B of this section and in furtherance of its own purposes, may release or provide such information to any of the other authorized agencies. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any insurance company<\/span> providing information to an authorized agency or agencies pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall have the right to request relevant information and receive, within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days, the information requested. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Any insurance company<\/span>, or person acting in its behalf or authorized agency who releases information, whether oral or written, pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall be immune from any liability arising out of a civil action<\/span>, or penalty<\/span> resulting from a criminal prosecution<\/span> unless actual malice<\/span> on the part of the insurance company<\/span> or authorized agency is present. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (\u00a7 27-85.5)\n\nA. Any authorized agency may, in writing, require an insurance company to\nrelease to the requesting agency any or all relevant information or evidence\ndeemed material by the requesting agency in the insurance company’s\npossession relating to the fire loss in question. Relevant information may\ninclude, but shall not be limited to:\n\n 1. Pertinent insurance policy information relevant to a fire loss under\n investigation and any application for such a policy;\n\n 2. Policy premium payment records;\n\n 3. History of previous claims made by the insured;\n\n 4. Material relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of\n any person, proof of loss, and any other evidence relevant to the\n investigation.\n\nB. 1. When an insurance company has reason to believe that a fire loss in which\nit has an interest may be of other than accidental cause, then, for the purpose\nof notification and for having such fire loss investigated, the company shall,\nin writing, notify an authorized agency and provide it with any or all material\ndeveloped from the company’s inquiry into the fire loss.\n\n 2. When an insurance company provides any one of the authorized agencies with\n notice of a fire loss, it shall be sufficient notice for the purpose of this\n article.\n\nC. The authorized agency provided with information pursuant to subsections A or\nB of this section and in furtherance of its own purposes, may release or provide\nsuch information to any of the other authorized agencies.\n\nD. Any insurance company providing information to an authorized agency or\nagencies pursuant to subsections A or B of this section shall have the right to\nrequest relevant information and receive, within a reasonable time, not to\nexceed thirty days, the information requested.\n\nE. Any insurance company, or person acting in its behalf or authorized agency\nwho releases information, whether oral or written, pursuant to subsections A or\nB of this section shall be immune from any liability arising out of a civil\naction, or penalty resulting from a criminal prosecution unless actual malice on\nthe part of the insurance company or authorized agency is present.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 279.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}