DENVER — When people lose their homes and everything they own, one thing they have to learn to deal with is insurance claims, which is why two state lawmakers have started working on a plan to make things easier after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 350 homes. in the great county.

Democratic State Rep. Judy Amabile and Republican State Senator Bob Rankin held a town hall meeting last year to hear from voters about their experience with the insurance claims process.

“We’ve heard from people who submitted their inventory and the insurance company came back and said things like, ‘well, how much dog food did you have?’ and ‘when did you buy this dog food?’ State Representative Amabile said. “That level of detail that seemed unnecessary to go back to people and keep them waiting so long.”

The bill would require insurers to pay policyholders 80% of their contents coverage without completing an itemized list.

“Right now they have to give you 30% of face value for your contents insurance,” she said. “The 80% is based on what we’ve heard is an average of what companies pay anyway.”

The bill would allow people to rebuild in a different location or use the proceeds to buy a new, already-built home. If passed, it would also extend the length of time insurers cover living expenses while a person is displaced.

“It’s to make it easier for people to collect,” she said. “It’s to make the deadlines fairer for the consumer because at the moment they favor the insurer.”

The devastation in suburban Boulder County after the Marshall Fire is far greater than what was lost after the Troublesome East Fire. The challenges with insurance, however, will be similar.

>> Video below: A man loses his house to fire for the third time

“I’ve seen neighbors having a lot more trouble because of the underinsurance process,” said Bob Hunnes, who lost a home in Grand County.

More than a year later, he is still grappling with claims to rebuild that house. In the best-case scenario, he expects the insurance company to cover 75% of the cost of rebuilding his house, while the neighbors will only get 50%.

“A lot of people are underinsured by 50%,” Hunnes said. “Maybe they were insured for $250,000 or $300,000. Now they find out it will cost them $600,000 or $700,000 to rebuild what they had.”

So far, Hunnes and his wife have received 50% of the proceeds from his accommodation. They also received a 30% payment for content.

Hunnes said he hasn’t heard from anyone in his area who has enough insurance to cover the entire replacement. He hopes to start rebuilding his house in June.

“The recovery process is a long process,” he said.

State Representative Amabile said the bill will be introduced next week. It would come into force in June and would not be retroactive. Even if it passes, it won’t help the families who lost a home in the Marshall fire.

RELATED: Underground coal fire under investigation as potential ignition source in fast-paced and destructive Marshall Fire

RELATED: Family Lost Everything in Marshall Fire, Including 14-Year-Old Boy’s Medical Equipment

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado wildfires