Tennessee insurance subcommittee advances five bills, postpones one; key measures include mental‑health reimbursement and 12‑month birth‑control supply

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Insurance Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 5, voted to advance five bills to the full insurance committee and postponed one item for a week, moving measures on insurance‑code updates, a program repeal date, mental‑health reimbursement, annuity exemptions and pharmacy dispensing of year‑long contraception.

The action came during a roughly 12‑minute calendar session in which the panel heard short explanations from bill sponsors and recorded unanimous or near‑unanimous votes to send measures on to the full committee.

House Bill 1304, introduced by Chairman Hill, was described as “an administration bill that updates the insurance code,” and, as amended, repeals references to “mini COBRA,” expands farm‑insurance options and includes provisions aimed at industry transparency. Chairman Hill said, “House Bill 13 oh 4 is an administration bill that updates the insurance code. It, repeals, mini cobra, which has outdated references, expands farm insurance options, improves industry transparency, and pending any questions, I seek passage.” The committee voted to adopt the amendment and then voted to advance the bill; the…