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Subcommittee clears bill letting Tennessee banks join pooled employer health plan
Summary
House Bill 329 would allow Tennessee banks to participate in a multi-employer welfare arrangement (AMEWA) established in North Carolina to seek lower-cost health insurance; the subcommittee approved the measure and sent it to the full Insurance Committee.
Chairman Martin presented House Bill 329 on Wednesday, Feb. 12, telling the Insurance Subcommittee the measure would permit Tennessee banks to join an existing multi-employer welfare arrangement (referred to in testimony as AMEWA) that has operated in North Carolina for about 25 years.
Chairman Martin said the multi-employer arrangement allows employees in the same industry to pool risk and potentially reduce premiums for small community banks. He said the bill sets membership rules, restrictions and caps, and requires participating banks to comply with Tennessee laws on licensure, solvency and tax obligations. Chairman Martin said the Tennessee Bankers Association supports the bill and that language was coordinated with the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Committee members posed no recorded questions before the clerk took a roll call. The clerk recorded aye votes from Representative Bob Freeman; Representative Youssef Hakim; Representative Renee Jones; Representative Anssavi Kumar; Representative Raper; and Chairwoman Esther Hilton Haines. The roll-call entries in the transcript show six recorded ayes; the clerk declared the bill passed by the subcommittee and ready to advance to the full Insurance Committee.
The transcript records no amendments, economic impact figures, or named movements/seconders for the motion to advance. The bill’s sponsor identified compliance and solvency requirements but did not provide cost estimates in the subcommittee hearing.
