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Bill would move reduced‑cigarette enforcement fund into Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund; committee delays action
Summary
Representative Wohrey presented agency bill HB 10 86 to transfer the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act enforcement fund into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to address cashflow matters for the fire marshal office; the committee deferred action pending consistency on trust fund reserve levels.
Representative Wohrey (District 22) presented House Bill 10 86, an agency bill that would move the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act enforcement fund into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund and allow the trust fund to support fire marshal expenses.
Wohrey explained the fund was established in 2009 and is financed by periodic manufacturer contributions tied to cigarette certification. He said the current cash balance in the enforcement fund is about $491,360 and that amendments to HB 10 86 would transfer the enforcement fund balance to the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund on August 1, with any unused amount at the end of the fiscal year (June 2026) transferring to the general fund.
The committee discussed the bill’s fiscal mechanics in the context of previously passed trust‑fund language. Members said one previous committee action had set the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund reserve at $1,000,000 while HB 10 86 reflected an intent to increase the reserve to $1,500,000. Chair and members said they needed consistency across committee actions and deferred a motion pending resolution of the ending fund balance issue.
Representative Nelson asked whether the cigarette‑related testing program had measurable public‑safety outcomes; Wohrey said the fund originally supported cigarette testing to enforce performance standards designed to reduce fire hazards and described the program’s history. A representative from the insurance department was available for technical questions but committee members concluded they would resolve the trust fund balance question before taking further action.
No committee vote on HB 10 86 was recorded in the transcript; the committee indicated it would hold the bill for later discussion to ensure consistent messaging about the trust‑fund reserve level.
