Video & Transcript : 'captive insurers' :
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ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 21st, 2025 at 12:30 pm
North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The hospitals point at the insurance companies. The insurance companies point to the providers.
- health insurance change comes.
- , managed repair programs, civil remedy actions against property insurance insurers, notice of property
- insurance claims, and surplus lines insurance policies; to amend and reenact section 26 of the North
- commercial risks and fire property and casualty insurance rates, surplus lines insurance, risk retention
Summary:
The Senate reconvened and handled several House messages and conference committee appointments before taking up a series of bills. It appointed conference committees on Senate Bill 2265 and House Bills 1454, 1448, and 1524. The chamber also adopted a Senate amendment to House Bill 1216, delaying its effective date for the copay accumulator prescription drug bill to January 1, 2026, with later renewal timing for non-PERS plans.
House Bill 1216 then came up for final passage. Senators debated whether allowing copay accumulator programs to count manufacturer coupons toward deductibles would help patients with expensive drugs or unfairly shift costs to insurers and other policyholders. Supporters said it would help people afford life-saving medications and that the coupon payments go to pharmacies, not insurers; opponents argued it could raise premiums and create perverse incentives for drug pricing. The bill passed 29-18. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 2160, which changes health insurance benefits under the Uniform Group Insurance Program to move from a grandfathered to a non-grandfathered plan, with supporters emphasizing added benefits and flexibility and opponents warning of higher costs and irreversible changes. That bill passed concurrence 33-14 and final passage 39-8.
The Senate next concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 2339, the wildfire mitigation bill, which requires utility mitigation plans to be updated every two years, incorporate national electric standards, and creates a rebuttable presumption of reasonable care if the plan is followed. The bill then passed final passage 46-1. The chamber also adopted conference committee reports and passed House Bill 1460 on adult foster care and monitoring devices, House Bill 1440 on cigar lounge tobacco use, and Senate Bill 2374 on insurance-related provisions including property insurance arbitration, managed repair programs, and surplus lines issues; SB 2374 also added a study on towing and recovery coverage. The session ended with announcements of upcoming conference committee meetings and adjournment until April 22, 2025.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Assembly Insurance Committee.
- As a result, many survivors see their insurance claims As a result, many survivors see their insurance
- It requires insurers to follow wildfire-specific public health guidance for smoke claims, ending insurer-by-insurer
- It also prohibits insurers from terminating additional living expenses until ...prohibits insurers from
- It does not change insurance coverage.
Committee:
House Insurance
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/10/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- But I do have two fundamental questions for the insurance business and how the insurance business is
- has to or but still why the insurance has to or why<00:22:23.600><c> the</c><00:22:23.840><c> insurance
- </c><00:22:52.080><c> model</c> think the model the insurance model think the model the insurance model
- 23:04.240><c> it's</c> it's not in your regular insurance it's it's not in your regular insurance it's
- </c> connected right into the insurance connected right into the insurance policy<00:26:33.600><c> and
Committee:
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Transportation Jan 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- by these insurers.
- these insurers.
- I work for PEMCO Insurance.
- We're a personal lines insurer, so we sell auto, home, and renters insurance, and we live and breathe
- I represent the Northwest Insurance Council.
Summary:
The committee began with a work session on transportation planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Western Washington. April Putney of the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Local Organizing Committee described the event as a statewide, 39-day tournament with six Seattle group-stage matches, additional possible matches, fan zones across the state, and major transportation impacts centered in the Seattle area, including street closures, increased I-5 traffic, and heavy use of transit, shuttles, ferries, and active transportation. She said the goal is safe, seamless mobility with 80% of stadium attendees arriving by non-personal vehicle, and noted coordination with federal agencies on border crossings and security. WSDOT’s Travis Phelps outlined roughly $25.65 million in World Cup-related funding for tunnel maintenance, traffic operations, signage and digital messaging, public transit support, ferries, and related staffing and training, emphasizing use of existing staff, overtime, and current fleets rather than new hires or vehicles. Senators asked about border staffing and ferry capacity, and WSDOT said it would follow up on ferry staffing concerns.
The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 5839 would remove the “passenger only” limitation for county ferry districts, allowing them to support vehicle ferries; supporters from Whatcom County and the Association of Counties said the change would help aging ferry systems, improve funding flexibility, and support essential island access, while some testimony was opposed. SB 6032 would amend the secure-your-load law to allow vehicles with mud, rocks, or debris on them to be covered instead of cleaned before being towed on paved highways; the sponsor and industry witnesses said it would save time and water for construction equipment operators, and the hearing closed with strong support and little opposition. SB 5824 would clarify how fifth-wheel travel trailers are measured, allowing up to 46 feet measured from the kingpin to the rear of the trailer; RV industry, dealer, and business groups supported it as a safety-neutral clarification that would align Washington with other states and improve competitiveness, and the hearing closed with overwhelming support.
Finally, SB 5864 would create an online motor vehicle insurance verification system at the Department of Licensing, require insurers to provide policy data, and use the system at registration renewal beginning in 2029 after a pilot period. The sponsor and supporters from insurers and law enforcement said the bill would reduce uninsured driving, improve roadside verification, and lower costs shifted to insured drivers, while county auditors and vehicle subagents supported the policy but warned that implementation must be technically reliable and adequately funded so renewals are not slowed. The public hearing closed with substantial support and some operational concerns raised, and the committee adjourned after the final hearing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Reinsurance, uh, provides insurance for insurance companies to help cover the cost of caring for the
- , as well as early retirees. insurance coverage fewer Minot fewer insurance coverage fewer Minot fewer
- </c><00:05:05.080><c> as</c> that may not offer health insurance as that may not offer health insurance
- companies in general—not just health insurance, but insurance in general.
- </c><01:17:28.960><c> death</c> insurance Market into an insurance death insurance Market into an insurance
Committee:
House Commerce Finance and Policy
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> increased product service and insurance increased product service and insurance costs<00:12:19.600
- </c><00:26:59.440><c> can</c> past litigation outcomes insurers can past litigation outcomes insurers
- </c> more efficient and stable Insurance more efficient and stable Insurance Market<00:28:31.559><c>
- </c> National Association of insurance National Association of insurance Commissioners<00:28:45.559><
- “Then we circle who's here on insurance. So who's here on insurance?
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later.
Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not.
Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/11/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- :43.760><c> insurance.
- that are buying insurance.
- selling insurance in those counties. And selling insurance in those counties.
- </c> insurance ratings in Minnesota. insurance ratings in Minnesota.
- </c> insurance we provided. insurance we provided.
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- insurance cost.
- Insurance companies since we've been here. If you change insurance companies...
- Insurance person.
- It changes across from insurance to insurance.
- In the insurance market.
Bills:
HJR144 , HJR218 , HB40 , HB 101 , HB 112 , HB146 , HB168 , HB214 , HB413 , HB1523 , HB493 , HB521 , HB594 , HB557 , HB305 , HB549 , HB854 , HB 1057 , HB 1052 , HB842 , HB3174 , HB3311 , HB2486 , HB3196 , HB824 , HB 1039 , HB2529 , HB2713 , HB4936 , HB4995 , HB4830 , HB4864 , HB5219 , HB5263 , HB5154 , HB2674 , HB5525 , HB5623 , HB2545 , HB2587 , HB2625 , HB5520 , HB5436 , HB4926 , HB1573 , HB5165 , HB4811 , HB5081 , HB4755 , HB3179 , HB4310 , HB4611 , HB2159 , HB4626 , HB3637 , HB3153 , HB3066 , HB2786 , HB2966 , HB638 , HB640 , HB876 , HB497 , HB5539 , HB4809 , HB5308 , HB4687 , HB4070 , HB4421 , HB4412 , HB3284 , HB3369 , HB3420 , HB3449 , HB4098 , HB4281 , HB4120 , HB4504 , HB4370 , HB 1106 , HB2370 , HB2404 , HB3863 , HB2407 , HB2253 , HB2273 , HB2040 , HB1586 , HB3788 , HB3993 , HB4690 , HB4309 , HB4696 , HB2308 , HB 1142 , HB1533 , HB1621 , HB2242 , HB2012 , HB2193 , HB2442 , HB2464 , HB2348 , HB2313 , HB2289 , HB1942 , HB2011 , HB1629 , HB2993 , HB3592 , HB3824 , HB4076 , HB4535 , HB4623 , HB4773 , HB 1091 , HB5115 , HB5515 , HB3372 , HB5659 , HCR118 , HB 1233 , HB2239 , HB2379 , HB2863 , HB3368 , HB3787 , HB3815 , HB3898 , HB4023 , HB4285 , HB4329 , HB4331 , HB4429 , HB4646 , HB4904 , HB5200 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5662 , HB5668 , HB5670 , HB5672 , HB5674 , HB5676 , HB5679 , HB5688 , HCR108
Keywords:
regional mobility, transportation authority, local law, constitutional amendment, public projects, Texas energy fund, energy efficiency, retail electric customers, electric generating facilities, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, Texas State Guard, task force, professionalization, state missions, critical infrastructure, science park district
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, our Department of Insurance does not Department of Insurance does not Department of Insurance does
- when the Department of Insurance does not govern does the Insurance does not govern does the Insurance
- Insurance is a little bit more than just Insurance is a little bit more than just Insurance is a little
- insurance cancer, car insurance cancelled, every insurance he insurance cancelled, every insurance he
- . insurance. insurance.
Keywords:
appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Jun 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- “So how is the insurance fee currently?
- These are local government fees, insurance, et cetera, and costs, including insurance.”
- manage is that of insurance.”
- specific part of our insurance requirements, which is uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance.
- Do they, are those other carriers required to have some other type of insurance if it is an RM/UIM insurance
Summary:
The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight.
Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology.
The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Extending aspects of the state's reinsurance program 3/5/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Insurers have had to adjust quickly. Insurers have had to adjust quickly.
- </c> insurance through the individual market. insurance through the individual market.
- </c> help their employees purchase insurance. help their employees purchase insurance.
- </c><00:28:48.159><c> isn't</c> people is though that insurance isn't people is though that insurance
- Insurance is administrative. healthare. Insurance is administrative.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Jan 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- That means not just lower insurance claims, but also overall better property insurance market conditions
- insurance for entire zip codes.
- And when insurers can't accurately write to the risk, there's a risk that the insurers will leave that
- but across the entire landscape of insurance, is designed to pay for the cost of regulating insurers
- As the insurance commissioner mentioned, IBHS is kind of our thing. Insurers fund the research.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken.
The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Business, Trade & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Term life insurance provides coverage for a set number of years and pays out as long as a... ...insurance
- The bill also provides requirements for insurers in notifying the insured of their rights to designate
- For background, pet insurance is property insurance that...
- Are there a lot of—I'm probably not a lot—how many insurers provide pet insurance? Do you know?
- Are there a lot of—I'm probably not a lot—how many insurers provide pet insurance? Do you know?
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/17/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> insurance coverage. insurance coverage.
- Insurance. Insurance.
- </c> insurers when they go to the insurance. insurers when they go to the insurance.
- </c> insurer by 37%. insurer by 37%.
- </c> insurance department. insurance department.
Committee:
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:10:37.279><c> proceeds</c> draw down your life insurance proceeds draw down your life insurance
- company has to pay and the six insurance company has to pay and the<00:15:49.000><c> insurance</c><00
- Like, as I said, I mean, it may be like insurance companies do not provide insurance out of the kindness
- Like private insurance, they have to go to a different market in order to buy insurance for their homeowners
- somebody off this insurance if if Mr and somebody off this insurance if if Mr and Mrs<00:29:38.039><c
Committee:
House Taxes
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Expanding property insurance coverage and trying to address the enormous gaps in insurance that have
- Currently, the state's insured wildfire risk is well diversified by private insurance companies.
- insurance, resume selling homeowners insurance.
- insurers can get our policy.
- , the insurance market.
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.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance (1-14-26)
Banking & Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> is agreed upon language with our insurer is agreed upon language with our insurer friends<00:02:
- </c> savings account qualified insurance savings account qualified insurance plans.<00:09:17.200><c>
- </c> uh getting, you know, fighting insurance uh getting, you know, fighting insurance somewhere<00:12
- </c> traditional workers comp insurer. traditional workers comp insurer.
- </c> this also apply to health insurance? this also apply to health insurance?
Committee:
House Banking & Insurance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- , specifically windstorm insurance.
- Annual Property Casualty Insurance Package, about $785,000 is for windstorm insurance alone, meaning
- insure all of our facilities.
- So you mentioned other insurance because I'm hearing the same skyrocketing property insurance costs from
- Yeah, we've seen a rise in property insurance go up from $93,000 to $250,000. ...56% in property insurance
Bills:
SB2920 , SB2929 , SB2398 , SB865 , SB401 , SB2619 , SB2927 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB1635 , SB1581 , SB2008
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- With costs shared among member insurers.
- And maintains insurance code authority for TDI to investigate insurance fraud.
- This legislation addresses an insurance practice which unfairly allows insurance companies to reduce
- Some insurance policies have clauses stating insureds will need to request the withheld depreciation
- HB 4260 also protects insureds by stipulating that an insurer may not reduce or recover depreciation
Committee:
House Insurance
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Banking & Insurance (3-5-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm with Reed Brothers Insurance in Somerset. I've been in insurance for 12 years.
- I'm with Reed Brothers Insurance in Somerset. I've been in insurance for 12 years.
- </c> law enforcement as well as insurance law enforcement as well as insurance companies<00:08:47.080
- </c> an a property uh in property insurance an a property uh in property insurance claim<00:09:24.880
- and Tornado Insurance Fund.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00
Roll Call: 00:20
SB18 Discussion: 01:36
SB18 Vote: 05:07
SB24 Discussion: 06:37
SB24 Vote: 10:50
HB524 Discussion: 12:03
HB524 Vote: 13:55
HB421 Discussion: 15:13
HB421 Vote: 20:50
HB236 Discussion: 21:53
HB236 Vote: 23:34
HB210 Discussion: 25:40
HB210 Vote: 29:56, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and took up several insurance and health-related bills, beginning with Senate Bill 18, which was presented by Senator Girdler and insurance witness Adam Sheridan. The bill was described as addressing a shortage of garage liability insurance for used auto dealers in Kentucky, which has left many small dealers with only one or two coverage options and, in some cases, unable to obtain the insurance needed for a dealer license. The committee adopted a motion and second, then passed SB 18 unanimously and reported it favorably with the recommendation that it pass on the House floor.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 24, also presented by Senator Girdler with testimony from Eric DeCampo of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The bill was framed as an anti-fraud measure that would expand the definition of a fraudulent insurance act to cover misrepresentations about property damage and repair costs in property insurance claims. Testimony emphasized that insurance fraud raises premiums for consumers and that the bill would help deter inflated or fabricated claims. After a brief question about whether the bill created new felonies, the committee voted to pass SB 24 unanimously and report it favorably.
House Bill 524, presented by Rep. Aaron Thompson with officials from the Office of the Controller and State Risk, would extend reinsurance requirements for the state’s fire and tornado/self-insurance fund from July 1 of this year to July 1, 2030, and rename the fund the Commonwealth’s Property and Casualty Insurance Fund. The bill was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously. House Bill 421, presented by Rep. Amy Neighbors, would require full coverage of FDA-approved bowel preps without out-of-pocket cost or prior authorization issues and update colorectal cancer screening coverage rules for high-risk patients by incorporating multisociety task force guidelines. Members discussed the bill’s personal importance and its minimal fiscal impact; it passed unanimously with a committee substitute. House Bill 236, presented by Rep. Adam Moore and Commissioner Sharon Clark, would cap annual out-of-pocket costs for epinephrine at $100. Members spoke in support, including personal remarks about the importance of access to epinephrine, and the bill passed unanimously with a favorable recommendation.
Finally, House Bill 210, presented by Rep. Michael “Sarge” Pollock and Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, addressed dental limited benefit plans and direct payment to dentists. Members asked whether the bill also affected vision/hearing arrangements or third-party administrators; the witness said it was intended for non-ERISA dental plans in Kentucky and suggested follow-up with the commissioner for further clarification. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed HB 210 favorably, with 15 yes votes and no votes against. The meeting then adjourned, with a reminder about the Banking and Insurance dinner later that evening.