Department of Insurance requests actuary, compliance specialist and fire‑marshal pay as wildfires and PBM oversight pressure market

Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, and Dean Cameron, director of the Department of Insurance, presented the department's fiscal 2026 budget request and agency priorities to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21.

The department requested four FY2026 enhancements: one staff actuary ($201,900 total, $198,900 ongoing and $3,000 one‑time for equipment) to conduct actuarial reviews of rates and products; one regulatory compliance specialist ($41.03 per hour, budgeted at 80% of policy for pay grade O) to serve as an internal legal and policy resource; ongoing compensation increases for the state fire marshal and deputies ($48,100 ongoing: $38,100 salary, $10,000 variable benefits); and $162,200 in one‑time capital outlay for the state fire marshal (about $10,000 for turnout gear, $16,200 for cameras and $136,000 for two medium‑duty pickup trucks equipped for field work), Peterson told the committee.

Cameron told legislators the department oversees two budget programs—the Insurance Regulation Division and the State Fire Marshal—and has 75.5 approved full‑time positions, with 63.5 in insurance…