Transcript Highlights:

• but each new mandate increases premiums but each new mandate increases premiums for<00:03:13.920
• shifted directly onto premium payers. shifted directly onto premium payers.
• their rates and lower premiums. their rates and lower premiums.
• Reinsurance was designed to stabilize that market and help bring premiums down.
• Is it upfront with the premiums?

Bills: HF3388, HF400

Keywords: HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance, health insurance, group health carriers, MCHA, MNsure, individual market, premium stabilization, carrier assessment, health insurance assessment, premium security plan account, state innovation waiver, high-risk pool, reinsurance payments, healthcare premiums, insurance carriers, deferral of assessment, financially impaired condition, HF400

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from the prior day and then heard House File 400, a bill described as a defrayal measure for health insurance mandates. Representative Perryman said the bill would not block future mandates, but would require the state to pay the added costs of any new mandated benefits so those costs would not be shifted to premium payers. She and supporters framed the bill as a way to protect affordability for Minnesota employers, workers, and families, especially in the fully insured market. Testimony in support came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. They argued that Minnesota has a high number of mandated benefits, that each new mandate adds cost to premiums, and that businesses—especially small and midsize employers—are already struggling with rising health insurance costs. The health plans representative said the bill would use the existing Commerce defrayal process to reimburse plans for eligible mandate-related claims, allowing those costs to be removed from premium rates. Several members echoed support, saying the bill would improve transparency by showing the fiscal impact of proposed mandates and help prevent people from being priced out of coverage. Members also explored how mandates apply in the market and how premiums are set. Deputy Commissioner Julia Dryer explained that, unless otherwise specified, mandates generally apply to the individual, small group, and fully insured large group markets, while self-insured ERISA plans and other markets are generally outside that scope. Representative Elkins noted that the affected market is relatively small and said small businesses are increasingly moving to self-insured plans because of cost. He and others raised concerns about affordability, while Representative Smith argued that mandates often ensure needed care and that the bill shifts costs to taxpayers rather than insurers. Representative Bacham added a personal example from tribal self-insurance, saying preventive physicals had saved lives and asking whether other factors besides mandates are driving insurer costs. No amendments were offered, and the bill was laid over for possible future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Premium Security Plan has been one of the few proven tools to stabilize the individual market.
• Reinsurance was designed to stabilize that market and help bring premiums down, and has done so with
• onto premium payers. onto premium payers.
• insurance in their premiums. insurance in their premiums.
• advertisements at a higher premium. advertisements at a higher premium.

Bills: HF4502, HF3388, HF4106, HF400, HF4138, HF4118, HF4203

Keywords: trusted contact, financial exploitation, elder abuse, elder financial abuse, fraud prevention, financial institution, banking, credit union, broker-dealer, account security, dormant account, consumer protection, scam, suspicious activity, protective services, law enforcement reporting, Minnesota Statutes chapter 45A, HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:08:08.039> have last 12 to 24 months premiums have last 12 to 24 months premiums have consistently
• <00:10:19.839> steeply yet no surprise our premiums steeply yet no surprise our premiums steeply
• <00:10:44.360> increases coverage reduction and premium increases coverage reduction and premium
• If patients are paying premiums...
• <01:31:00.960> down brings brings premiums down brings brings premiums down significantly<

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

Transcript Highlights:

• that we had seen over the summer for one of the programs in the human service area, the housing stabilization
• the human service area,<00:04:01.519> the<00:04:01.599> housing<00:04:01.920> stabilization
• <00:04:02.720> supports area, the housing stabilization supports area, the housing stabilization

Bills: HF3379

Keywords: housing stabilization, disability services, predatory funding, provider requirements, housing accessibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• community-based living, and advances person-centered policies that respect dignity, independence, and stability
• dignity, policies that respect dignity, independence,<00:41:28.240> and<00:41:28.400> stability
• <00:41:29.119> It<00:41:29.440> also independence, and stability.
• It also independence, and stability.

Bills: HF729

Keywords: human services, provider enrollment, medical assistance, healthcare, housing stabilization, substance use disorder, vulnerable adults, fraud prevention, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• proposing a premium subsidy or a premium proposing a premium subsidy or a premium write<00:13:47.800
• the market and reducing stabilizing the market and reducing premiums<00:16:46.120> on<00:16:46.279
• <00:19:16.919> by the highest at reducing premiums by the highest at reducing premiums by
• doesn't act and Congress does premiums doesn't act and Congress does premiums would<00:25:26.279
• further increases in the premiums further increases in the premiums uh<00:26:59.840> repeat

Bills: HF837

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, SJR 4 would raise the constitutional cap. of the Economic Stabilization Fund from 10 percent
• We are projected to hit 28.5 billion dollars in the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) by the end of the
• Fall in fiscal 26, money that otherwise would have gone to the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) remains
• It would mean less money in the Economic Stabilization Fund, not less money than we have now.
• The amount that we're putting into the Economic Stabilization Fund, I'm just curious if I'm missing anything

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Bills: HF729, HF728

Keywords: human services, provider enrollment, medical assistance, healthcare, housing stabilization, substance use disorder, vulnerable adults, fraud prevention, respite care, children, licensed settings, home and community-based services, 1183, house

Bills: HB3783, HB2955, HB3802, HB4488, HB2471, HB3781, HB3127

Keywords: captive insurance, protected cell, sponsored captive, captive insurer, insurance commissioner, premium tax, dormant captive, risk retention group, pure captive, association captive, industrial insured captive, series captive, branch captive, special purpose captive, reciprocal insurer, capital and surplus, letter of credit, change in control, merger, conversion

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Transcript Highlights:

• Oklahoma homeowners pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the nation, and this is protections
• Oklahomans pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the nation.
• Thank you for that question. ...have had increases in their premiums as well.
• I want the free market to work and I want rates to stabilize.
• Want rates to stabilize.

Bills: HB3048, HB3259, HB3646, HB3696, HB3780, HB3781, HB3802, HB3818, HB4294, HB4488, HB2929

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, everybody in Medicare pays a $185 premium this year.
• Yes, everybody in Medicare pays a $185 premium this year.
• better you can get than a zero premium better you can get than a zero premium and<00:16:11.360><
• <00:24:28.880> for the Medicare supplement premiums for the Medicare supplement premiums for
• , and it would take even upwards of a decade for premiums to stabilize, based on the acuity of the new

Bills: HF2335, HF2400, HF2401, HF2522

Keywords: Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 485 by Senator Edmonds provides for the levy of premium tax in the city of St. George.
• This transfers authority over insurance premium tax within the city of St.
• So it clarifies that insurers may only be subject to one local insurance premium tax for the same risk
• It defines insurance premium tax as a municipal license tax imposed on insurers, which is all consistent
• premium taxes, and administer those taxes.

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• saying, "Well, here's the free water, maybe even lesser quality that's in an igloo, but here's our premium
• and eagloo saying here's your free water and then<00:58:43.200> charging<00:58:43.680> premium
• <00:58:44.480> That<00:58:44.720> to then charging premium service?
• That to then charging premium service?
• setting up scenario after scenario and using government to allow the businesses that can to set up premium

Bills: HF1392, HF2233, HF695, HF2228, HF1289

Keywords: consumer protection, restitution, attorney general, consumer enforcement, unclaimed funds, victim compensation, settlement funds, special revenue fund, general fund, restitution account, consumer fraud, state treasury, eligible consumers, distribution of funds, tax subtraction, income tax, refund, unpaid compensation, Minnesota Department of Revenue, consumer redress

Transcript Highlights:

• Rising insurance premiums are not Arizona-specific, but are due to inflation and increased incidence
• Insurance premium tax revenues have seen substantial growth in recent years; from FY24 to FY25, they
• It takes money from the insurance premium tax collection.
• So on each insurance premium written in the state, there is a small percentage that goes to a tax.
• So on each insurance premium written in the state, there is a small percentage that goes to a tax.

Bills: HB2013, HB2292, HB2334, HB2349, HB2350, HB2845, HCM2011

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, forest fire, brush removal, defensible space, community hardening, vegetation management, fire-resistant construction, wildland urban interface, WUI, insurance premium tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial property insurance

Summary: The committee heard three measures. HB 2013 would require the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the EPA when wildfires on federally managed land affect Arizona air quality. Sponsor Rep. Lisa Fink said the bill is intended to prevent Arizona from being penalized for wildfire-driven air quality problems and could help reduce regulatory burdens. Sierra Club opposed the bill, arguing the existing exceptional-event process already requires case-by-case analysis, that automatic filings could be unnecessary or ineffective, and that the bill lacked an appropriation. ADEQ testified neutral. The committee approved HB 2013 on a 5-1 vote. HB 2292 would create the Wildfire Prevention Authority and Fund under the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management; a committee amendment renamed it the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority and Fund, capped administrative expenses at 8%, and prioritized funding for single-family and multi-family dwellings. Supporters, including Coconino County Vice Chair Geronimo Vasquez and the County Supervisors Association, said the bill would provide a coordinated, data-driven wildfire mitigation program funded by a $20 million annual diversion from insurance premium tax revenues, helping reduce wildfire damage and stabilize insurance costs. Members discussed the funding source as an existing tax diversion rather than a new tax. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 2292 as amended on an 8-0 vote. HCM 2011 urges Congress to pass federal legislation to delist the Mexican wolf, defund the reintroduction program, and transfer management to local authorities. The sponsor said the memorial responds to ranching impacts from wolf predation and supports federal action already moving in Congress. Sierra Club opposed the memorial, saying the species remains insufficiently recovered and that delisting would be premature. After debate, including comments both supporting and opposing delisting, the committee approved HCM 2011 on a 5-2 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative and benefits administration costs, driving insurer exits, and potentially raising premiums
• exits, and potentially raising premiums exits, and potentially raising premiums for<00:36:58.400
• least<00:37:37.920> 83% spend at least 83% spend at least 83% of<00:37:39.839> premiums
• on patient care and this of premiums on patient care and this bill<00:37:42.000> is<00:37:42.240
• <00:38:04.480> Refund increased premium rates. Refund increased premium rates.

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:

• > supporting stabilizing small businesses, supporting stabilizing small businesses, supporting
• stabilizing our local economies. stabilizing our local economies.
• If we do not act, the faster we stabilize small businesses, the faster we stabilize our communities.
• If we do not act, the faster we stabilize small businesses, the faster we stabilize our communities.
• If we do not act, the faster we stabilize small businesses, the faster we stabilize our communities.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, if I may, I want to make sure, with the delay in this, there's no premiums that would be paid

Bills: HF11

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Bills: HF11

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement