House approves notice-of-previous-premium bill and adopts amendment expanding insurance commissioner's review power

House members on April 29 approved a measure requiring insurers to show the prior-year premium on renewal notices and, after a late amendment, expanded the state insurance commissioner's authority to review rate filings for excessiveness.

Representative Sam Wylie, the bill's sponsor, said the core change is simple: when a policyholder receives a renewal the insurer must display the immediately preceding premium alongside the new amount. "You would open it up carefully and reluctantly and look at that right hand bold print in the corner, and it would be your annual fee for the next year," Wylie said, arguing the side-by-side display helps consumers compare and consider shopping or contacting their agent.

Rep. Greg Glorioso offered and successfully secured an amendment that removed a statutory provision tying an'excessiveness'review only to markets…