On February 11, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) issued Updated Bulletin 2026-003, addressing notice requirements for residential property/casualty insurers serving customers in the Ruidoso fire service protection areas (FSPAs).
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) rating and advisory organization told the New Mexico OSI it had completed a Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey for Ruidoso FSPAs, with affected policyholders moving from PPC class 2 to class 3. ISO intends to make that PPC change effective July 1, 2026.
As a result, the New Mexico OSI directs that, before 90 days following the bulletin (May 11, 2026), insurers must provide written notice to their affected policyholders using specified wording (or language of similar meaning) titled “NOTICE OF A CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY’S PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUM.” The ISO’s intended effective date is July 1, 2026.
The notice text states that PPC is one factor affecting availability of, or premiums for, residential property insurance; that changes may increase or decrease what a customer pays or affect whether coverage will be renewed; and that the insurer is giving notice within 90 days after the New Mexico OSI notified the insurer about the change. The ISO’s PPC score is based on an evaluation of four elements: emergency communication systems, fire department, water supply and community risk reduction.
Updated Bulletin 2026-003 also corrects its own authority statement, replacing a reference to “general OSI Bulletin 2026-003” with “general OSI Bulletin No. 2024-022.” The New Mexico OSI lists Melissa Robertson, Property & Casualty Bureau Chief, as the OSI contact for questions.
