The Value of Your Big “I” Technical Affairs Committee

• By: Nancy Germond
• March 16, 2026

Article 

What do these policy enhancements in Insurance Services Office (ISO) coverage forms and endorsements have in common? 

• Many positive changes to the 2022 Homeowner’s Policy general revision, such as a positive change to application of the deductible if the limit is less than 80% of the replacement cost and coverage for the use of a riding lawnmower away from the premises. 

• Under the Personal Auto Policy, ISO added two endorsements to alter the exclusion for insureds involved in ride sharing. 

• Under the Business Auto Policy, ISO developed a commercial auto endorsement extending liability coverage to an insured’s non-employee volunteers, treating them similarly to employees or hired autos for specific coverage areas such as physical damage when they use their own vehicles in the insured’s business. This endorsement provides coverage for volunteers’ auto usage, especially when required by contract.  

ISO adopted all these endorsements and more at the suggestion of your Big “I” Technical Affairs Committee (TAC). 

TAC is a small committee of individuals interested in insurance policy wording. Agents from Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, and a state agents’ association staff member from New York, a liaison from the IIAB executive committee form the current membership. Nancy Germond, Executive Director, Risk Management and Education for IIABA, serves as the committee’s staff liaison and meeting coordinator.  

We meet at least three times a year in person or virtually to develop an agenda of proposed additions and changes to ISO’s forms and rules portfolio. Every spring, our TAC members meet with ISO staff at its headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey, to discuss that agenda.  

Committee members and other Big “I” members around the country send agenda items. The items address several personal and commercial lines of business, including homeowners, commercial general liability, personal and commercial auto, commercial property and businessowners, and others.  

This year’s agenda includes 44 separate items submitted from agents and committee members between 2009 and 2026. (Remember, sometimes these agenda items stay on the agenda for years before ISO acts.) 

After the committee discusses an item with ISO, the committee decides to do one of the following on each agenda item.  

• Do further research or watch the issue for discussion the following year; 

• Await feedback from ISO after they approach their carrier panels about suggested changes; 

• Accept the requested change for publication in the future; or 

• Drop the request from further consideration (if the TAC committee members agree), but sometimes the issue returns as a new agenda item. 

As the list above shows, this small group of people has a substantial impact on the policy forms and endorsements that you can offer to your clients. ISO does not accept every TAC suggestion. However, TAC provides an important source of real-world information for the people who write these forms. The work TAC does each year with ISO makes a significant difference to both agents and consumers by enhancing coverage and closing coverage gaps.  

The committee sometimes seeks Big “I” agents interested in shaping insurance coverage. If you are a Big “I” member interested in joining this effort, contact Nancy Germond for more information or to send your own ideas for future agenda items. TAC is a little-known but influential group that affects financial protection for millions of Americans. 

We sincerely thank our committee members who contribute, year after year, to making our forms better and clearer for agents and consumers.  

Copyright © 2026, Big “I” Virtual University. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be used or reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission from Big “I” Virtual University. For further information, contact nancy.germond@iiaba.net.