Committee hears bill to clarify and promote state‑sponsored life insurance for National Guard members

Chair Manning opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 803. Committee staff summarized the measure as allowing the adjutant general to make the state‑sponsored life insurance program available to all Oregon National Guard members, to permit payroll deductions for premiums, and to allow program representatives to provide information to members.

Russell Gibson, government legislative affairs director for the Oregon Military Department, described the bill as housekeeping that aligns state statute with Chapter 37 of the U.S. Code, which allows payroll deductions for qualifying life insurance. Gibson said SSLI already operates for many Oregon National Guard members but that state law lacked a corresponding statute. He outlined several features of SSLI: a $1,000 no‑action policy automatically provided to all Guard members, the ability to qualify for a minimum $10,000 policy (and dependents for $5,000) without regard to pre‑existing conditions, and a reported expedited partial payout (up to $26,000) within 24–72 hours to assist families.

Committee members asked about interaction with federal Service Members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Gibson said Guard members can access both SSLI and SGLI; SGLI is automatic unless opted out, and SSLI can continue after service to age 70. A senator asked about premiums; Gibson said premium schedules matter and offered to provide committee details after the hearing.

No formal committee action on SB 803 was recorded in the transcript.