{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/38.2-1900.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/38.2-1900.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/38.2-1900.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/38.2-1900.html"}],"law_id":66229,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66229,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1900","catch_line":"Purposes of chapter","history":"1973, c. 504, \u00a7 38.1-279.29; 1986, c. 562.","full_text":"A\n\nThis chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes stated in subsection B of this section.B\n\nThe purposes of this chapter are to:1\n\nProtect policyholders and the public against the adverse effects of excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory rates;2\n\nEncourage independent action by insurers and reasonable price competition among insurers as the most effective way to produce rates that conform to the standards of subdivision 1;3\n\nProvide formal regulatory controls for use if independent action and price competition fail;4\n\nAuthorize cooperative action among insurers in the rate making process, and regulate such cooperation in order to prevent practices that tend to create monopoly or to lessen or destroy competition;5\n\nProvide rates that are responsive to competitive market conditions and improve the availability of insurance in this Commonwealth; and6\n\nRegulate the business of insurance in a manner that will preclude application of federal antitrust laws.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":240571,"text":"This chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes stated in subsection B of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":240572,"text":"The purposes of this chapter are to:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":240573,"text":"Protect policyholders and the public against the adverse effects of excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory rates;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":240574,"text":"Encourage independent action by insurers and reasonable price competition among insurers as the most effective way to produce rates that conform to the standards of subdivision 1;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":240575,"text":"Provide formal regulatory controls for use if independent action and price competition fail;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":240576,"text":"Authorize cooperative action among insurers in the rate making process, and regulate such cooperation in order to prevent practices that tend to create monopoly or to lessen or destroy competition;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":240577,"text":"Provide rates that are responsive to competitive market conditions and improve the availability of insurance in this Commonwealth; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":240578,"text":"Regulate the business of insurance in a manner that will preclude application of federal antitrust laws.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13456,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Rates Generally","identifier":"19","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12698,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:55","permalink":{"id":212945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13456,"identifier":"19","token":"38.2\/19","url":"\/38.2\/19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12698,"edition_id":1,"name":"Insurance","identifier":"38.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":210661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12698,"identifier":"38.2","token":"38.2","url":"\/38.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66229,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1900","catch_line":"Purposes of chapter","url":"\/38.2-1900\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1900","metadata":false},{"id":57539,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1901","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/38.2-1901\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1901","metadata":false},{"id":74191,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1902","catch_line":"Scope of chapter","url":"\/38.2-1902\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1902","metadata":false},{"id":70651,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1903","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/38.2-1903\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1903","metadata":false},{"id":86657,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1903.1","catch_line":"Exemptions of large commercial risks","url":"\/38.2-1903.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1903.1","metadata":false},{"id":68129,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1904","catch_line":"Rate standards","url":"\/38.2-1904\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1904","metadata":false},{"id":57802,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1905","catch_line":"Motor vehicle insurer not to charge points or increase premiums in certain instances","url":"\/38.2-1905\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1905","metadata":false},{"id":80697,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1905.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/38.2-1905.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1905.1","metadata":false},{"id":70804,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1906","catch_line":"Filing and use of rates","url":"\/38.2-1906\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1906","metadata":false},{"id":54809,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1906.1","catch_line":"Misquote of premium","url":"\/38.2-1906.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1906.1","metadata":false},{"id":67605,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1907","catch_line":"Filings open to inspection","url":"\/38.2-1907\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1907","metadata":false},{"id":61334,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1908","catch_line":"Rate making and delegation of filing obligation","url":"\/38.2-1908\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1908","metadata":false},{"id":76329,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1909","catch_line":"Review of rates by Commission","url":"\/38.2-1909\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1909","metadata":false},{"id":64325,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1910","catch_line":"Disapproval of rates","url":"\/38.2-1910\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1910","metadata":false},{"id":63878,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1911","catch_line":"Special restrictions on individual insurers","url":"\/38.2-1911\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1911","metadata":false},{"id":77322,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1912","catch_line":"Delayed effect of rates; certification of reinsurance with affiliated company","url":"\/38.2-1912\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1912","metadata":false},{"id":76016,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1912.1","catch_line":"Approval of prospective loss costs and supplementary rate information; \u00a7 38.2-119 rate filings","url":"\/38.2-1912.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1912.1","metadata":false},{"id":73514,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1913","catch_line":"Operation and control of rate service organizations","url":"\/38.2-1913\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1913","metadata":false},{"id":68776,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1914","catch_line":"Licensing of rate service organizations","url":"\/38.2-1914\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1914","metadata":false},{"id":77780,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1915","catch_line":"Joint underwriting or joint reinsurance organizations","url":"\/38.2-1915\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1915","metadata":false},{"id":82148,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1916","catch_line":"Certain conduct by insurers and rate service organizations prohibited","url":"\/38.2-1916\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1916","metadata":false},{"id":75759,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1916.1","catch_line":"Investigation by Attorney General of suspected violations; investigative demand to witnesses; access to business records, etc.; penalties","url":"\/38.2-1916.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1916.1","metadata":false},{"id":54431,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1916.2","catch_line":"Penalties; injunctive relief; restitution","url":"\/38.2-1916.2\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1916.2","metadata":false},{"id":64311,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1917","catch_line":"Injunctive relief","url":"\/38.2-1917\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1917","metadata":false},{"id":64825,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1918","catch_line":"Agreements for equitable apportionment of insurance","url":"\/38.2-1918\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1918","metadata":false},{"id":62231,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1919","catch_line":"Collection of experience data; uniformity; compilations available to insurers and rate service organizations","url":"\/38.2-1919\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1919","metadata":false},{"id":72323,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1919.1","catch_line":"Interchange of rating data and information","url":"\/38.2-1919.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1919.1","metadata":false},{"id":60173,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1920","catch_line":"Excess rate for a specific risk","url":"\/38.2-1920\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1920","metadata":false},{"id":81510,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1921","catch_line":"Combination policies","url":"\/38.2-1921\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1921","metadata":false},{"id":61464,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1921.1","catch_line":"Professional employer organization workers' compensation rating","url":"\/38.2-1921.1\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1921.1","metadata":false},{"id":54416,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1922","catch_line":"No rule prohibiting or regulating payment of dividends, etc., to be adopted","url":"\/38.2-1922\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1922","metadata":false},{"id":73419,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1923","catch_line":"Person aggrieved by application of rating system to be heard; appeal to Commission","url":"\/38.2-1923\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1923","metadata":false},{"id":56103,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1924","catch_line":"Cooperation among rate service organizations, or among rate service organizations and insurers, authorized; review by Commission","url":"\/38.2-1924\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1924","metadata":false},{"id":77979,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1925","catch_line":"Examination of rate service organizations and joint underwriting and joint reinsurance organizations","url":"\/38.2-1925\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1925","metadata":false},{"id":67284,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1926","catch_line":"Action of Commission upon request for hearing on order or decision made without a hearing","url":"\/38.2-1926\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1926","metadata":false},{"id":62597,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1927","catch_line":"Withholding information; giving false or misleading information","url":"\/38.2-1927\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1927","metadata":false},{"id":73884,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1928","catch_line":"Violations of chapter","url":"\/38.2-1928\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1928","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":57539,"structure_id":13456,"section_number":"38.2-1901","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/38.2-1901\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1901","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/38.2-1900\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 504 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 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1986, chapter 562.<\/p>","references":[{"id":70651,"section_number":"38.2-1903","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-1903\/"},{"id":60472,"section_number":"38.2-2118","catch_line":"Required statement on insurance policies for owner-occupied dwellings","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-2118\/"},{"id":67104,"section_number":"38.2-2300","catch_line":"Conditions; permitted contracts; approval","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-2300\/"},{"id":74863,"section_number":"38.2-2608","catch_line":"Home protection contracts; filing; form and contents; application or agreement to purchase; regulation of rates and charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-2608\/"},{"id":77188,"section_number":"38.2-317","catch_line":"Delivery and use of certain policies and endorsements","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-317\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":212947,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66229,"identifier":"38.2-1900","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1900","url":"\/38.2-1900\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/38.2-1900\/","token":"38.2\/19\/38.2-1900","dublin_core":{"Title":"Purposes of chapter","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 38.2-1900","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> This chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes stated in subsection B of this section. <a id=\"paragraph-240571\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The purposes of this chapter are to: <a id=\"paragraph-240572\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Protect policyholders and the public against the adverse effects of excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-240573\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Encourage independent action by <span class=\"dictionary\">insurers<\/span> and reasonable price competition among <span class=\"dictionary\">insurers<\/span> as the most effective way to produce <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> that conform to the standards of subdivision 1; <a id=\"paragraph-240574\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B3\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> Provide formal regulatory controls for use if independent action and price competition fail; <a id=\"paragraph-240575\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B4\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Authorize cooperative action among <span class=\"dictionary\">insurers<\/span> in the <span class=\"dictionary\">rate<\/span> making process, and regulate such cooperation in <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to prevent practices that tend to create monopoly or to lessen or destroy competition; <a id=\"paragraph-240576\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B5\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> Provide <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">rates<\/span><\/span> that are responsive to competitive market conditions and improve the availability of <span class=\"dictionary\">insurance<\/span> in this Commonwealth; and <a id=\"paragraph-240577\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B6\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> Regulate the business of <span class=\"dictionary\">insurance<\/span> in a manner that will preclude application of federal antitrust <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-240578\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/38.2-1900\/#B6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPURPOSES OF CHAPTER (\u00a7 38.2-1900)\n\nA. This chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes stated in\nsubsection B of this section.\n\nB. The purposes of this chapter are to:\n\n   1. Protect policyholders and the public against the adverse effects of\n   excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory rates;\n\n   2. Encourage independent action by insurers and reasonable price competition\n   among insurers as the most effective way to produce rates that conform to the\n   standards of subdivision 1;\n\n   3. Provide formal regulatory controls for use if independent action and price\n   competition fail;\n\n   4. Authorize cooperative action among insurers in the rate making process, and\n   regulate such cooperation in order to prevent practices that tend to create\n   monopoly or to lessen or destroy competition;\n\n   5. Provide rates that are responsive to competitive market conditions and\n   improve the availability of insurance in this Commonwealth; and\n\n   6. Regulate the business of insurance in a manner that will preclude\n   application of federal antitrust laws.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 504, \u00a7 38.1-279.29; 1986, c. 562.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}