FROM THE COMMISH
COMMISSIONER ' S LETTER
A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT
written by Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Kansas Insurance Dept.
This year’ s legislative session has been moving along at breakneck speed. The Department has 13 bills moving through the Legislature this year. Our agenda once again has focused on eliminating fees, creating efficiencies, fighting fraud, and going after bad actors. Here is a snapshot of where some of the bills on the Department’ s agenda are at:
Lowering fees( SB 24 and HB 2050) Similar to the bill passed by the Department in 2023, this bill would give the Department the flexibility to lower over 100 different fees. This bill also would eliminate the annual appointment renewal fee companies appoint agents to sell on their behalf. The agent would be appointed until terminated by the company. The Department estimated that the bill would reduce revenue to the Department by $ 6 million. Both versions of the bill have passed their respective chambers with differences and will go to a conference committee. will be an additional tool to combat current cases and deter future instances of insurance fraud. The House version of the bill passed out of the chamber and awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“ but as this legislative session draws to a
close, the Department’ s educational opportunities continue.”
Consumer complaint response time( SB23 and HB 2043) This bill seeks to change the time that insurers have to respond to the Department on consumer complaints. Currently, they have 15-business days to respond. This bill would reduce that time to 14 calendar days. Both versions of the bill have passed their respective chambers with differences and will go to a conference committee.
Anti-fraud( SB 240 and HB 2323) Currently, the Department is limited in its ability to pursue criminal cases based upon the time and resources required to investigate and prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt, and staffing capacity. This bill would give the Department the authority to pursue certain insurance fraud cases civilly, which
32 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER