Transcript Highlights:

• This specifies that the requirement for an insurer to provide the insured with certain information about
• It would have provisions on regulating the offer and dissemination of travel insurance, licensing limited
• This is the bill modifying the insurance fraud program administered by the Insurance Commissioner.
• Oh, no, the insurance industry—sorry, my bills mixed up.
• With this bill we are setting up a Washington Travel Insurance Act, and with this new line of insurance

Bills: SB6178, SB5831

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance Commissioners' Travel Insurance Model Act.
• It would include provisions for regulating the offer and dissemination of travel insurance, licensing
• limited lines travel insurance producers, registering travel retailers, regulating travel administrators
• The bill would include provisions for regulating the offer and dissemination of travel insurance, licensing
• limited lines travel insurance producers, registering travel retailers, regulating travel administrators

Bills: SB6178, SB5831

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several insurance and consumer protection bills. On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5928, staff and supporters described wildfire risk score and model disclosure requirements for homeowners whose policies are nonrenewed, canceled, or adversely affected by wildfire risk, along with insurer website disclosures about mitigation discounts and a process for consumers to request revised scores. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, AARP, a mayor from Medical Lake, and a fire chief supported the bill as a transparency and consumer protection measure, while industry witnesses said the bill was heavily amended but still too regulatory and potentially costly, and some urged further technical changes. Members asked about how the bill interacts with mitigation efforts, the Fair Plan, and whether it would help consumers understand what actions could improve insurability. The committee also heard engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6031, which would create a standalone Class B felony for insurance fraud, expand the insurance commissioner’s fraud program, require reporting of certain suspected crimes affecting insurance, and address restitution in criminal cases. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner and AARP supported the bill as a response to organized fraud, but a criminal defense representative argued that part of the bill overlaps with existing misdemeanor insurance-claim fraud law and could create conflicting penalties and charging issues. Members asked about the 10-year statute of limitations and how it compares with other crimes. Substitute Senate Bill 6079, a wildfire mitigation grant program, was also heard. The bill would create the Strengthen Washington Homes Program to fund retrofits meeting IBHS wildfire-prepared standards and would bar insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify properties that meet that standard. The OIC, fire commissioners, the prime sponsor, and AARP supported it as a way to reduce nonrenewals and help homeowners harden their homes, while insurance industry witnesses said they could support the grant program but wanted Section 7 removed because they believed it would interfere with underwriting. The committee also heard substitute Senate Bill 6248 on travel insurance, which would adopt a Washington Travel Insurance Act with licensing, disclosure, tax, and unfair trade practice provisions; the travel insurance industry supported it and said prior amendments had been incorporated. Finally, the committee took testimony on engrossed Senate Bill 5280, which would regulate virtual currency kiosks with daily transaction limits, fee caps, disclosures, receipts, and reporting requirements. The Department of Financial Institutions and the Attorney General’s Office supported the bill as a response to rising crypto-kiosk fraud, especially elder fraud, while some members questioned whether the limits were too restrictive for legitimate users and asked about enforcement, restitution, blockchain analytics, and whether stronger consumer protections should be added. Additional testimony from industry and consumer advocates was invited, but the hearing moved quickly because of the committee’s limited time.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, they're not insurance professionals.
• But wouldn't you agree that in a regulated industry like insurance it would be up to the contractor to
• be more aware of the laws and regulations than in a highly regulated industry?
• You won't have to worry about anything with the insurance company.
• litigation against their own insurance companies for over a decade.

Bills: SB5831, SB6178

Keywords: mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 5831, the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act, was explained by staff as creating safe harbors so certain mortgage modifications would not affect lien priority or require re-recording; the prime sponsor said it would reduce uncertainty and legal costs. There was no public testimony or questions, and the hearing was closed. The committee then heard Substitute SB 6091, which would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to an exclusive group of buyers or brokers unless the property is also concurrently marketed to the public. Staff noted changes from the House version, including removal of Washington Law Against Discrimination language and added clarification that public marketing does not require physical access to the property. The sponsor and supporters, including Zillow, Washington Realtors, Habitat for Humanity, and the Fair Housing Center, said the bill promotes transparency, fair housing, and equal access, while the Rental Housing Association raised a concern about the remaining reference to “lease” and asked for an amendment to avoid unintended application to some rental providers. Members asked several questions about how the bill would work for private marketing, rentals, and potential disparate impacts. Finally, the committee heard SB 6178, which would prohibit post-loss assignment of insurance benefits in property insurance contracts. Staff and the sponsor said the bill is intended to stop contractors from taking over homeowners’ insurance claims after disasters like wildfires, while preserving direct payment arrangements to contractors. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill and described an increase in complaints, while also saying it was open to discussing the $50,000 penalty level; the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Washington State Association for Justice also supported the measure. Some members questioned whether the penalty should distinguish between good-faith and bad-faith conduct and whether a cooling-off period or existing consumer protection laws might address the issue. The committee closed the public hearing on SB 6178 and then on SB 6091, and ended the meeting with birthday recognition for two members.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then Commerce will continue to regulate normal business operations of the health insurers.
• And then Commerce will continue to regulate normal business operations of the health insurers.
• And then Commerce will continue to regulate normal business operations of the health insurers.
• ><c> us</c> regulated insurance structure allows us regulated insurance structure allows us to<01:35:
• </c><01:36:05.400><c> insurance</c><01:36:05.880><c> models</c> between well-regulated insurance models

Bills: HF3766, HF3972, HF3437, HF4118

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• because the Department of Insurance does warranties, service agreements, and insurance.
• because the Department of Insurance does warranties, service agreements, and insurance.
• because the Department of Insurance does warranties, service agreements, and insurance.
• carriers ultimately the the insurance carriers ultimately the insure<00:24:49.760><c> insurance</c><
• 00:24:49.919><c> insurance</c><00:24:50.240><c> policy</c> insure insurance insurance policy insure insurance

Bills: SB294, HB296, HB300, SB269

Keywords: public officers, bonding, risk management, notification, delinquency, consumer protection, rental home, marketplace guarantees, insurance, commissioner of insurance, healthcare, breast cancer screening, insurance coverage, deductible, copayment, emergency medical services, ambulance reimbursement, health care insurers, balance billing, provider networks

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to call this committee meeting in Business and Insurance to order. Good morning, everyone.
• Senate Bill 1447 adds safeguards to the Oklahoma Employee Insurance Plan by enacting restrictions on
• The first one is that no contract between the Oklahoma Employees Insurance Plan and pharmacy benefit
• They do own their own insurance companies, and they do own their own pharmacies.
• With that, I call this meeting, Business and Insurance, adjourned.

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Summary: The Senate Business and Insurance Committee met to consider several bills, with the chair emphasizing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the impact on local and rural pharmacies. Before taking up the bills, the committee announced that Senate Bills 1620 and 1625 would be laid over. The committee also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1673 to exempt certain state-funded flexible benefit plans, and then passed the bill, which creates the Prosthetic Access and Accountability Act of 2026 and requires health plans that already cover prosthetic benefits to administer them without disability-based discrimination. The committee then passed several PBM-related measures. Senate Bill 1500 requires PBMs to reimburse rural pharmacies within 30 calendar days. Senate Bill 1447 adds safeguards to the Oklahoma Employee Insurance Plan by restricting PBM contracts, including disfavoring PBMs involved in recent lawsuits or those affiliated with insurers, retail pharmacy chains, specialty pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, or drug manufacturers. Senate Bill 1646 strengthens utilization review standards for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and Senate Bill 2007 prohibits PBMs from reducing reimbursement after a successful appeal and adds administrative fees when they fail to make required adjustments. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1275, which requires upfront disclosure of all fees for short-term rental bookings such as Airbnb and VRBO, with only tax added at checkout. Finally, the committee passed Senate Bill 2074 after extensive debate; it would require fairer and more transparent PBM reimbursement using a Medicaid-based methodology and a professional dispensing fee, with supporters arguing it would help independent and community pharmacies and opponents raising concerns about consumer costs and legal issues. All bills considered in the meeting were reported out with favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after the chair noted one more meeting would be held the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oklahoma Captive Insurance Company Act.
• Insurance Association to improve the state's captive insurance framework.
• Our financial relationship was with the insurance plans as well.
• because the insurance companies won't be on board?
• That financial relationship should belong between the patient, the insured, and the insurance company

Bills: HB3794, HB3796, HB3928, HB2955, HB4453, HB4460

Keywords: licensure, criminal history, public safety, occupational certification, rehabilitation, state regulations, insurance, regulations, certification, long-term care, mergers, consumer protection, property safety, vision insurance, optometry, reimbursement, healthcare policy, ophthalmic materials, provider agreements, captive insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll come in like to call this committee meeting of Business and Insurance to order.
• Referential favorable treatment to bidders whose pharmacy benefit managers do not own health insurance
• Oklahoma Insurance Commission. For questions, do pass from Senator Brooks. Second from the chair.
• But the PM and their parent insurance company.
• The PM and their parent insurance company are the ones who choose where this dispensing fee goes.

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, they have to regulated.
• </c> Insurance Council in support. Insurance Council in support.
• ><c> with</c> First up, insurance division with First up, insurance division with comments.
• </c> relating to insurance. relating to insurance.
• </c> the DCCA insurance division's testimony. the DCCA insurance division's testimony.

Bills: SB2004, SB2039, SB2042, SB2043, SB2044, SB2132

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 544.002 of the Insurance Code is intended to protect individuals from having insurance companies
• at two types of auto insurance and two types of homeowners insurance to see whether or not Credit scores
• Credit-based insurance scores have been used in insurance for a few decades.
• American National Insurance. Okay.
• We're really, really over-regulating some insurance carriers, and again, I don't represent the carriers

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance and bring our ...
• I just tell the patient to get on the phone and call the insurance company because what the insurers.
• The first thing is with the other disclosures that are required that an insurer provide to an insured
• So, all this does is just require the insurer to notify the insured that you have a right to request
• assign to single insureds.

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance

Bills: SB 458, SB 819, SB 1238, SB 1642, SB 1643, SB 1644, SB 1791, SB 1810, SB 1824, SB 1825, SB 758, SB 1455, SB 1706

Keywords: renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, public interest determination, environmental impact, property rights, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, insurance, discrimination, marital status, widowers, spousal death, equitable treatment, Texas Department of Insurance, commission appointments, insurance regulation, oversight, consumer advocacy, insurance rates, property insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The insurance companies brought these to us.
• If you are an insurance company and you want Arizona to be your regulatory home, so each insurance company
• of contact for regulation nationally, for financial reasons.
• with these 147 companies, because they're kind of the national regulator for us.
• His claim was denied due to the insurance company His claim was denied due to the insurance company exploiting

Bills: HB2091, HB2118, HB2122, HB2138

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, technical registration, engineering, architect, land surveyor, reciprocity, endorsement, qualification standards, firefighter

Bills: HF3228, HF475

Keywords: workers' compensation, insurance programs, employee protection, Minnesota statutes, safety regulations, statue replacement, Hubert H. Humphrey, national commemoration, civil rights, Minnesota history, 1183, house

Bills: HB 11, HB 14, HB 132, HB 1584, HB 1606, HB 5061, HB 1041, HB 2286

Keywords: licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, electric utilities, priority facilities, public safety, disaster response, emergency management, insurable interest, individuals with disabilities, life insurance, care providers, insurance regulations

Bills: SB303, SB303

Keywords: education, principal leadership, mentoring, high-poverty schools, professional development, off-road vehicles, public roads, registration, liability insurance, age requirement, traffic regulations, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1415 prescribes specified qualifications for salaried employees of insurers or managing general
• obtained licensure without taking the examination to only adjust claims as a salaried employee of an insurer
• Isaacson, welcome. without taking the examination to only adjust claims as a salaried employee of an insurer
• I'm here on behalf of State Farm Insurance in support of Senate Bill 1415.

Bills: SB1181, SB1252, SB1254, SB1415

Keywords: certified public accountants, CPA certification, accounting regulations, professional standards, continuing education, assignment for benefit of creditors, ABC act, insolvency, creditor claims, debt liquidation, business wind-up, receivership, liquidation, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, proof of claim, voidable transactions, fraudulent transfer, wage claims, priority claims

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:46.399><c> in</c> insurance in insurance in Minnesota<00:09:48.320><c> many</c><00:09:48.600><
• </c><00:10:15.000><c> companies</c> new roof by their insurance companies new roof by their insurance
• What this bill is about is not regulating prices; it's about regulating price discrimination.
• </c> regulating prices it's about regulating regulating prices it's about regulating price<01:25:10.320
• </c><01:36:51.280><c> insurance</c> affordable auto insurance insurance affordable auto insurance insurance

Bills: HF2228, HF46, HF856, HF2149, HF2215

Keywords: homeowners insurance, property insurance, commercial property insurance, insurance affordability, insurance market stabilization, reinsurance, catastrophic reinsurance fund, self-insured pool, premium costs, coverage notice, liability reform, climate risk, climate change, housing affordability, multifamily housing, rental housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, small business insurance, Minnesota Commerce Department