[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6630488,"mediaKeyId","2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956","parentId",2692106,"title","Commerce bill on data calls, long-term care products and auto \"insurer of last resort\" moves to judiciary","audioSeconds",1782,"startMs",2228000,"endMs",4010000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956&start=2228&end=4010","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956/thumbnail_2228000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630488/Minnesota/Commerce-bill-on-data-calls-long-term-care-products-and-auto-insurer-of-last-resort-moves-to-judiciary","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630488-f825df29201f4e5503b0646d415755a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571933&Signature=RIeZO7V0neLJR3Ilxb7qU0GJvFDXO0vWYm4aLq9IdpndHiI6zKGjPpTpSvMndZgBl5QpJ3bHJPaSj14Rs1FGQHyjbL5MCiyyrAU7v4P9-L3u1nCOduQzGAXoVZ2YxsI9uMzKAN3Wai17vHO4E9I9FBOhOAsprRqY3Au588zCHFlvvCwF6kie-i55kW21SujzrmwM9UzibMKac~uw4CKRZSqAkSIIOkNipuTWOULGkLHWyzBuEiGs7bdQP6HoNSetlIOtxOeTWP4SADrYYIHyP1Ge2KbT~xaIKfv7-CkN7JZGVLCtON9BQeHlP-MSGuJIExCMeqffiFoT4o18MrdCvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-19T17:55:33.163Z","article","Representative Lee Finke presented House File 2389 on March 19, carrying the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s insurance policy bill. The bill contains three principal components: clarified treatment of department \"data calls,\" adoption of NAIC model provisions to allow limited long-term-care insurance products, and a change enabling the state's auto insurer of last resort to issue policies on its own paper rather than through a fronting carrier.

Peter Brickwitty, senior director at the Department of Commerce, testified that sections 1–3 clarify how information collected from carriers for targeted projects is classified and held, and that the proposal does not expand the department’s authority to require new data. \"We are not expanding the department's authority to ask for new or different information,\" Brickwitty said. He described the change as intended to make regulatory work faster and provide companies greater clarity about confidentiality and public summary disclosures.

Section 4 implements an NAIC model law to permit limited long-term-care products with shorter benefit periods and modified coverage; Brickwitty said the change aims to give consumers lower-cost options and to strengthen the long-term care market. Committee members asked specifics about the benefit design (daily benefit levels, length of coverage and activities-of-daily-living triggers); Brickwitty said those product details would be determined by companies and regulators and that the department would follow up with the committee on particular design questions.

Sections 5–11 address the auto insurance plan that serves as Minnesota's insurer of last resort. The bill would allow APSO (the auto plan operator) to write policies directly on its own paper. Brickwitty said other states have adopted similar approaches and the change is designed to improve operational efficiency and policyholder transparency.

The committee considered and incorporated an A3 amendment offered by Representative Finke and accepted an oral technical amendment. Representative Finke then moved to re-refer HF2389, as amended, to the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee; the chair called the voice vote and the motion prevailed. No public witnesses spoke in opposition during the Commerce hearing. Committee members also asked detailed questions about long-term-care product designs, data-call confidentiality, and the size and clientele of the auto plan; Brickwitty and department staff agreed to provide follow-up information to members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/19/25","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Lee Finke presented House File 2389, the Department of Commerce insurance policy bill, which clarifies how the department handles targeted data calls, authorizes limited long-term-care products, and allows the state auto plan to issue policies directly.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630493,"Committee hears Department of Commerce proposal to limit premium shock from open Medigap enrollment; bill laid over",334,366000,700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956&start=366&end=700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956/thumbnail_366000.jpg","/articles/6630493/Minnesota/Committee-hears-Department-of-Commerce-proposal-to-limit-premium-shock-from-open-Medigap-enrollment-bill-laid-over","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630493-3c9fd043056487d25072a3c0a54c04b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571933&Signature=l8k~cnQ88MCF0q5~ub96mbYUT1LqZBVaVQNtiinpCOK7nRUQizOAEDZMnHcreytkanqn3vlzKuqtdXK01c1x36UqAZHuAHe3475Z1T-x0mqwkaEeNUPrH0TYbVCvQVouT4hfk4VSN9QyoJFJwLOtJ1aVOH~dF6gzcqFKfsYV3ued393w-NlnJGv8SsYoy7cqBoEVJuoqKa~tdp78poKdmuREcvUHLODTjZm2IBXYCQVqSv6BgMNn6NRzkOh2G0m3raULgnjMajN7p8aXGn64vY7FabbD9e9D7lo2yki6vUQAp3NF7wwaBCpFxqobY9oisXqzUBI8oZqTwjHvYPKAaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Driscoll moved House File 2403 before the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee and the committee held testimony and public comment on the Department of Commerce’s health insurance policy bill, which includes changes to the Medicare supplement (Medigap) market and to guaranteed renewability rules for individual health plans.

Sam Smith, testifying for the Department of Commerce, described two central pieces: a response to a 2023 law that expanded the ability of Medicare enrollees to move from Medicare Advantage to Medigap during an annual open enrollment period, and a separate change to bring Minnesota’s guaranteed-renewability rules into closer alignment with federal standards. Smith said the department contracted an actuarial firm, Risk and Regulatory Consulting, which estimated an initial premium increase for Medicare supplement plans of about 6% and projected larger cumulative increases over time if adverse selection intensifies. To reduce that risk, Commerce proposed allowing insurers to apply a 10% surcharge for people who enroll in a Medigap plan outside their initial enrollment period while preserving access for people who need coverage.

Public commenters pressed the committee on consumer impact. Rich Neumeister, a lobbyist who said he tracks open-government and privacy issues, told the committee that the actuarial report he reviewed showed possible increases ranging higher than 6% and cited other states, including Idaho, where commenters reported double-digit increases. \"There will be some increases,\" Neumeister said, and urged lawmakers to seek solutions that preserve access for low-income people who rely on Medigap.

Dana Bacon of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society said blood cancer patients may face large out-of-pocket costs without Medigap and urged the committee to \"lean toward protecting consumer access and leaning away from penalizing people for their pre-existing conditions.\" Several committee members, including Representatives Elkins and Ryar, expressed concern about marketing pressure toward Medicare Advantage products and about the risk of adverse selection if people wait to enroll in Medigap until they get sick.

Representative Driscoll and Commerce staff said the proposed surcharge is intended as a compromise to preserve open enrollment while limiting the premium shock that could follow if many healthy enrollees move into Medigap plans only after they develop serious conditions. Committee members requested the actuarial report; Commerce agreed to make it available to members. Representative Driscoll asked the committee to lay HF2403 over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus policy and finance bill; the committee laid the bill over.","Representative Driscoll moved House File 2403, a Department of Commerce health-insurance bill that would change the Medicare supplement market and guaranteed-renewability rules, and the committee heard testimony and public comment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630498,"Committee lays over bill that would repeal outdated Minnesota fire statutes",214,132000,346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956&start=132&end=346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956/thumbnail_132000.jpg","/articles/6630498/Minnesota/Committee-lays-over-bill-that-would-repeal-outdated-Minnesota-fire-statutes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630498-d75e742df8c4549452d16febf95cfdaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571933&Signature=H2IgOMuh3OIiMMqhyaevhDwqDlqrINWicPZJ79DpOvD~PzuaIlap9sASkbnpQrXK1T-LAeYZnxLm7KYD3ks37HF9ZpVNHmobjWFspaUsnast~IBxl5ETlSANyiT0R22EktZrWppp9vwKUYaU8fyTXSg5pNypgA2qDO~boh~SHg5KniUTk86cDd5BAvo-2QhbqDUs4QfZ~iahUeO2veZzyipKykOgm7rsHYYLclCqX5gnwlix2hGeY7LEPWtaM1YlZfp56J~rfEfQ26pIjdXkDO~~HkdyHTH8dgzoqfJ-rmIIFy3SJv0XNhWiJSjREgLiVdXHu19nDbYJEDazH-BTww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Driscoll moved House File 1546 before the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee on March 19, asking the panel to lay the bill over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus policy and finance bill.

The bill would repeal a number of older statutory provisions related to fire safety that, supporters told the committee, no longer apply because modern construction practices and the adopted state fire code govern current practice.

\"We are looking to give clarity as to fire safety in Minnesota — to send people to the state fire code versus looking at a variety of different statutes,\" State Fire Marshal Dan Scribe testified. \"Removal of these outdated statutes ... is a clean up effort and it won't lead to any less safety in Minnesota because we follow more stringent practices today with the adoption of the state fire code.\" Representative Driscoll described the measure as removing statutes that have become \"mute\" or that conflict with current code and practice.

No members of the public spoke for or against the bill during the hearing, and the committee did not adopt any amendments. The chair announced that HF1546 would be laid over for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus bill.

The hearing record shows the bill was presented as a technical cleanup rather than as a change to enforcement authority; witnesses and the author emphasized directing questions of compliance to the adopted state fire code rather than to the older statutory language. The committee did not vote to pass the bill to another committee; the formal status recorded during the hearing was layover for possible omnibus inclusion.","Representative Driscoll moved House File 1546, a technical cleanup to repeal statutes that conflict with the state fire code; State Fire Marshal Dan Scribe told the committee the changes direct enforcement to the state fire code and would not reduce safety. The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630483,"Commerce technical bill on licenses, safety-deposit boxes and external review laid over",933,4016000,4949000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956&start=4016&end=4949","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2692106-3e0c454bb41f8b32bbad7f183ad6b956/thumbnail_4016000.jpg","/articles/6630483/Minnesota/Commerce-technical-bill-on-licenses-safety-deposit-boxes-and-external-review-laid-over","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630483-d569a8b0a1fc0d4fa29839d24eee7f29/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571933&Signature=DmR-39yDZtXxmd5DoY9Xo1ai26mgaSrinUUxJdw9H5HlqBM~bH0aWjXg-EfsJeEKZU7HE13mUlwZd~~QfaANaJWXjzlDznJ4x7ZnXarZgYZakxJtH~7YZoF1YfG2tp3h839K89s3wZYNlDg0gAcqThp3IShaMqAcuRBGFCQSOYhN5krLbhSNTYbmOF4rNCzPgenyW7unrPTcV5mm3VqFp-Dg3I8AKSP2JIJXTDED5~OkUEYoQM2g4KqlLrvOT3YCzDsMb-f5Kb1BHpvywEdQwnLmmoNNU-zyOgOYPmaQBSJkiBtFW5mMlmBcVYVAg5xR1W1fdMYio8Ts4N3D9qJnXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Co-chair Herr presented a technical Department of Commerce bill (referred to in committee materials and testimony as House File 2398) that spans licensing and technology fee changes, exemptions and cross references, transfers and management of accounts, safety-deposit box procedures relating to unclaimed property, contracting for external review of adverse determinations, and a limited authorization for expedited rulemaking in a department-administered area.

Sam Smith and other Commerce staff described the bill as largely technical and intended to keep statutes current with administrative practice. The committee heard questions about the safety-deposit-box provisions, particularly whether banks must notify lessees before automatic renewal and how boxes with unpaid rental fees are handled when an owner is deceased or otherwise unreachable. Tess Rice, general counsel for the Minnesota Bankers Association, explained the industry’s process: renters are billed annually, and if rental is not paid the contents can enter the unclaimed-property process, which includes notary oversight and eventual escheat to the state in accordance with state unclaimed-property law.

Co-chair Herr said the bill also updates language about external review of adverse determinations to remove the Department of Administration from the contracting step and reduce the minimum number of contracted review organizations, and it makes minor edits to cross references and fee language. No public witnesses registered opposition at the Commerce hearing. Co-chair Herr asked the committee to lay the bill over for possible inclusion in a forthcoming Commerce omnibus policy bill; the committee laid it over.","Co-chair Herr presented a technical Commerce bill (house file referred to in the hearing as HF2398) covering licensing and technology fees, exemptions, unclaimed property/safety-deposit-box rules, contracts and external review of adverse determinations, and an expedited rulemaking authorization. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commerce bill on data calls, long-term care products and auto "insurer of last resort" moves to judiciary

Committee hears Department of Commerce proposal to limit premium shock from open Medigap enrollment; bill laid over

Committee lays over bill that would repeal outdated Minnesota fire statutes

Commerce technical bill on licenses, safety-deposit boxes and external review laid over