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ND House approves changes to insurance fees, sponsors say increases long overdue
Summary
The North Dakota House passed House Bill 11-23 to update insurance-related fees and reorganize fee language in Title 26.1 of the North Dakota Century Code; supporters said many fees had not been adjusted for decades while at least one lawmaker called a producer-fee increase excessive.
The House of Representatives passed House Bill 11-23 on final consideration after committee sponsors said the bill updates long-outdated fees charged by the Insurance Commissioner and clarifies where fees are located in state law.
Supporters said the bill addresses fees that have remained unchanged for 30 to 40 years and will produce new revenue for the state. "Appointment fees will increase from $10 to $25," Representative Meyer, speaking for the bill, said, and added that the change "will generate more than $1,300,000 for the biennium." He also outlined changes to life settlement and company licensing fees and said the Appropriations Committee removed a proposed $1.5 million general-fund appropriation to the insurance regulatory trust fund.
The bill’s sponsor and committee supporters described the revisions as administrative updates and revenue adjustments that reflect present costs. Representative Vakasaw, chair of Appropriations, told members the committee recommended the bill, as amended, with a do-pass recommendation by a recorded committee vote.
Not all members supported every change. Representative Casper said the increase in producer licensing fees — from $10 to $25 per company — could significantly raise costs for producers licensed with many companies. "If I'm licensed with 30 insurance companies, I'm gonna now have to pay $750 annual fee as opposed to, $200 or $300 annual fee," Casper said, and urged the Senate to review that portion of the bill.
The clerk recorded the final vote and the House declared House Bill 11-23 passed as recorded on the chamber floor.
The bill amends multiple sections of Title 26.1 of the North Dakota Century Code relating to fees charged by the Insurance Commissioner and carries a fiscal note projecting additional general-fund and other-fund revenue for the 2025-27 biennium.
