Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very strong claim-paying capacity.
• So we can cover off on and easily pay all the claims that we would get from our policyholders if there
• They have an earthquake claim-paying capacity.
• And then when they're done paying claims after a covered wildfire, they start a catastrophic wildfire
• There are a lot more claims to be had.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It covers the Office of Insurance. Regulation is Division of Health and Life.
• By comparison, Medicare covers only 714 by our codes.
• Also a limited number of paid claims there.
• We were happy to see that the volume of deny claims from this.
• So that should not be a a reason and of itself for denial of a claim.

Transcript Highlights:

• claims.
• The claims against the state were almost all related to, uh, The claims against the state were almost
• There's no insurance policy that covers a claim for intentional child sexual abuse.
• And most of these claims are occurrence-based claims, right?
• It's not covered by your insurance.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very strong claim-paying capacity.
• So we can cover off on and easily pay all the claims that we would get from our policyholders if there
• And then when they're done paying claims after a covered wildfire, they start a catastrophic wildfire
• , and then when they're done paying claims after a covered wildfire, they start a catastrophic wildfire
• There are a lot more claims to be had.

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Health estimate that the initial claims data might cover 75% of the market, which is a
• So you've got claims data and non-claims data. Really, you're looking at costs.
• claims.
• The All-Payer Claims Database, Madam Chair, members of the committee, tracks very detailed claims data
• data to the All-Payer Claims Database.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was no claim unpaid.
• There was no claim unpaid.
• </c><02:12:13.719><c> the</c><02:12:14.199><c> claims</c><02:12:15.199><c> that</c> adequate to cover
• the claims that adequate to cover the claims that potentially<02:12:15.960><c> could</c><02:12:16.159
• and claims related to pay the claims and claims related expenses<02:36:19.359><c> um</c><02:36:19.640

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cover.
• What is covered employee?
• Not what service is what this covered employee not have to provide for the covered employer and this
• is being made for instead of we, you know, haven't mismatch of them claim in this room claiming that
• claim in this.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with claim.
• be identified by the covered individual at the time the covered individual requests the leave or files
• a claim related. ...identified by the covered individual at the time the covered individual requests
• </c> spouse or domestic partner of a covered spouse or domestic partner of a covered individual's<00:
• </c> after the Family and Medical Leave claim after the Family and Medical Leave claim is<00:50:24.160

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amount of money they think it will take to cover the tort claims outlay for the next two years.
• amount of money that they think it will take to cover the tort claims out late for the next two years
• and in the cost of those claims.
• But just by definition, all these claims are old claims.
• And there are a lot of old claims.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session covering the state revenue outlook, caseload forecasts, wildfire costs, budget balance, tort liability, water supply, and pension policy. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported modest near-term U.S. growth, no near-term Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and elevated inflation, with tariffs and federal policy cited as major risks. Revenue forecasts were slightly improved for the current biennium by about $105 million but down about $185 million for the next biennium. Members asked about income inequality and housing permits; staff said personal income is an aggregate measure and housing production remains below long-term needs. The Caseload Forecast Council then reported that most forecasts were unchanged or only slightly changed, but several programs increased, including Washington College Grant, Working Connections, aged/blind/disabled cash grants, nursing homes, home and community services, and developmental disabilities personal care. The largest policy-driven change was in Medicaid low-income adult caseloads, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce coverage substantially through narrower eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. The committee also heard a wildfire funding update and a 2025 fire season review. Staff explained that the state budgets $93 million annually for suppression and uses supplemental appropriations for costs above that level, with an estimated state supplemental need of about $139 million for the current year. Department of Natural Resources officials said 2025 fire activity remained below the 10-year average in acres burned, but fires were more complex and closer to communities, contributing to higher residence loss. They described expanded use of aircraft, firefighters from other states, corrections crews, and the Arcadia 20 hand crew, and said the state did not need National Guard ground support this year. A budget preview then showed that the near general fund outlook had worsened after vetoes, lapses, and forecast changes, and that maintenance-level costs alone would leave a projected negative balance by fiscal year 2027 and about $4.3 billion by fiscal year 2029, before any policy decisions. Jason Seams, the state risk manager, reported a sharp rise in tort claim costs, with indemnity expenses nearly doubling from fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and DCYF accounting for most of the increase. He said the state self-insurance liability account has run deficits for four straight biennia and is now facing nearly $600 million in deficits, driven largely by a surge in DCYF claims, especially juvenile rehabilitation and long-running sex abuse cases. Members asked about the role of old claims, comparisons with other states, excess insurance, and whether more Attorney General staff could reduce special assistant attorney general costs. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust. Tribal witnesses emphasized overappropriation, declining flows, climate impacts, and the need for legislative oversight and tribal participation in water policy. Ecology described major projects in the Odessa sub-area, Yakima Basin, and Dungeness, along with the need for storage, recharge, conservation, and policy changes to support water supply development. The Washington Water Trust argued that climate change is reducing summer flows and that the state needs more funding, enforcement, and long-term commitment to restore instream flows. The final item was a pension update on LEOFF 1 surplus assets; staff reviewed two 2025 bills that would have merged or restructured the plan and used surplus assets, but neither passed, and instead the budget directed the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study the issue and report back.

Transcript Highlights:

• A bad faith claim by an insurance company is usually something like unreasonably denying a valid claim
• They can make the claim, they can settle the claim.
• deny the claim, but settle the claim.
• claims manager.
• As a claims manager and this regional liability claims manager, we would evaluate these claims and there

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and voted due pass on three bills. House Bill 2717 passed on a 7-0 vote. House Bill 2465 passed after adoption of a House Committee substitute that changed a referenced number from two to one, and then passed 8-0. House Bill 1791 also passed 8-0 after adoption of a committee substitute incorporating an amendment that added language for an emergency permit and a 30-day extension to obtain a full permit. One member raised a question about whether the bill would align with federal disaster recovery grant requirements, and the chair said he would look into it further. The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2927, House Bill 2057, and House Bill 1707. House Bill 2927 would revise Missouri’s time-limited settlement demand statute for bad faith claims by requiring settlement demands to be in writing, remain open for at least 90 days, and reference the statute. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would close a loophole created by untimed or vaguely timed demands and provide clearer rules for insurers, while opponents argued it would make it harder for injured people and policyholders to hold insurers accountable and could encourage delay. Supporters included representatives of the Missouri Insurance Coalition, Missouri Hospital Association, and Associated Industries of Missouri; opponents included plaintiff-side attorneys who said the current law already addressed abusive short deadlines. House Bill 2057 was described as a technical fix to an entertainment district law for Osage Beach, correcting population language after a prior bill reportedly used the wrong text in the Senate. House Bill 1707 would exempt credit card surcharge fees from sales tax. The sponsor and supporters said the Department of Revenue has been taxing those fees in audits and that the bill would clarify that fees incident to the extension of credit are not taxable. No opposition was presented on either bill, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The claims were just—one claim was submitted at the end of February, and it's been paid.
• Most of the claims, like 70% of claims that are denied, are for a correctable reason.
• But across all claims, only 14% of unique claims have been denied.
• Most of the claims, like 70% of claims that are denied are for a correctable reason.
• But across all claims, only 14% of unique claims have been denied.

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to make sure that companies are charging a rate to cover their losses and that they can pay claims
• when claims are due.
• Claims, they build the expected costs of paying those claims into rates, and that increases premiums.
• We want to make sure that companies are charging a rate to cover their losses and that they can pay claims
• when claims are due.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mean payout per claim.
• So, one paid claim in the last five years— we have data only on paid claims.
• On average, the claims are sending a signal. On average, these are not bad claims.
• claims.
• filed claim.

Transcript Highlights:

• Related to property claims, 24 years of experience as an insurance attorney handling property claims.
• There's no sense in making that a $40,000 claim. There's no sense in making that a $40,000 claim.
• I talk to a lot of people whenever our claims filed over a roof claim; they have no idea if they're supposed
• After storms, they are not chasing roof claims. They're chasing insurance claims.
• This bill only covers mandatory fees.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 267, which would change the membership rules for the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors by adjusting appointment qualifications, term limits, and nomination procedures. Vice Chair Thomas explained the bill was meant to address the lack of nominations from existing entities and to allow the governor more flexibility, especially in smaller districts. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee reported HB 267 favorably. The committee then considered House Bill 478 on utility overcharge reimbursements. The bill, as amended, requires utilities to clearly label reimbursements on customer bills and sets a deadline for issuing refunds. After discussion with the Public Service Commission and utility representatives, the committee changed the reimbursement timeline from 45 days to 90 days and clarified that the bill would not interfere with larger settlement or regulatory credits. HB 478 was then reported favorably as amended. The longest discussion centered on House Bill 924, a consumer protection measure aimed at contractors who solicit residential property owners after declared disasters. The author said the bill was intended to curb predatory storm-chasing and fraudulent insurance-related practices, while still allowing emergency mitigation work. The committee adopted technical amendments and then a conceptual amendment shortening the catastrophe response period from six months to 30 days. Testimony was split: the Insurance Commissioner and some roofing industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to deter fraud, while other contractors argued it would hurt small businesses, limit legitimate door-to-door work, and not solve enforcement problems. The bill remained under consideration after extensive testimony and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would create a non-covered claim.
• </c> determine if we have covered determine if we have covered claims<01:49:01.119><c> so</c><01:49:01.360
• </c> claims so to determine if it's a covered claims so to determine if it's a covered claim<01:49:03.639
• </c> non-covered claim it would create non-covered claim it would create accountability<01:50:20.239>
• Non-covered claims.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Claim closure time is down 27% since mid-2025.
• Claims payments are fastest on record.
• for what our HOA is not covering anymore.
• for what our HOA is not covering anymore.
• , it only covers about one in every seven policyholders.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the flood claim and we had the hurricane claims.
• We had the flood claim and we had the hurricane claims.
• What are those claim services?
• I know we didn't cover all the material in the slides, but I thought we covered a lot of material that
• I know we didn't cover all the material in the slides, but I thought we covered a lot of material that

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Self-insured ERISA claims stay in the federal system. Thank you.
• paid, and claims denials.
• So we cover... ...with a self-insurance fund for them.
• So we cover severity-driven workers' comp classes.
• These claims do not provide meaningful benefits to consumers.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and heard a full agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and passed without objection after supportive testimony from banking and credit union groups. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program; the sponsor described it as a way to move emergency out-of-network payment disputes away from costly litigation and into an independent dispute resolution process modeled on the federal No Surprises Act. A proposed amendment drew significant questions from senators and concerns from the Florida Insurance Council about confusion over state versus federal eligibility and possible effects on contracted rates, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the amendment. The underlying bill was then supported by health care and insurance stakeholders and reported favorably. SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels also passed, with Progressive Insurance waiving in support. The committee next approved CS/SB 158 on pet insurance, which requires continuing education for agents, clearer consumer disclosures, and annual reporting to OIR; the amendment was technical and adopted. SB 1494 on breast cancer screening coverage was presented as expanding required coverage for mammograms and supplemental screenings for certain insurance products, and it passed with support from cancer and radiology groups. CS/SB 314 on digital asset issuers was amended to create a Florida framework for payment stablecoin issuers consistent with the federal GENIUS Act, allowing state-level regulation as an alternative to federal supervision, and was reported favorably. SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, including higher small-estate thresholds and clearer authority for personal representatives, also passed after a banking-related amendment requiring letters of administration for safe deposit box access was adopted. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance, which raises the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ comp policies from 10% to 20% and adjusts the Florida Workers’ Compensation Guarantee Association board membership; a carrier representative testified that the change would help keep more high-risk accounts in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 on a Florida Stable Coin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for DFS to create a Florida coin, limit the pilot to existing stablecoins with at least $1 billion market capitalization, and require qualified public deposit handling; it then passed. CS/SB 838 on electronic payments for retail installment contracts clarified that convenience fees for electronic payments are permissible while preserving a fee-free option, and it was reported favorably after questions about consumer access to free payment methods. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, made a wide range of administrative changes affecting My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, licensing, bail bonds, and other DFS functions; a late-filed amendment on title insurer appointments was adopted, and the bill passed. The committee also approved SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting condo hardening assistance to owner-occupied units meeting income and occupancy criteria, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which the sponsor and industry witnesses said would modernize Florida law and promote insurance competition and economic activity. The meeting ended with all bills on the agenda reported favorably and the committee adjourning without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of which could be covered inside of the Which could be covered inside of the CDPHE fraud for one
• Then does that entity have the financial support necessary to cover those particular claims?
• to cover those particular claims?
• claims? claims? &gt;&gt; Representative<07:38:11.920><c> Espinosa.
• If you're going to cover firefighters and you cover all the firefighters, you can't say, "Well, it's

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Self-insured ERISA claims stay in the federal system. Thank you.
• paid, and claims denials.
• , claims, pay, and claims denials.
• So we cover... We cover severity-driven workers' compensation classes.
• These claims do not provide meaningful benefits to consumers.

Bills: S0158, S0314, S0618, S0684, S0838, S0990, S1000, S1082, S1452, S1494, S1500, S1568, S1706

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.