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Committee clears several insurance and consumer‑protection bills in single session
Summary
The Insurance & Commerce Committee passed a package of bills by voice vote: HB13‑67 (circuit clerk custodial roles for electronic public records), HB15‑95 (Insurance Department omnibus), SB236 (holding company regulatory act), HB14‑88 (life‑insurance fund hold and interest), HB15‑87 (any‑willing‑provider clarification), and HB12‑98 (No Surprises Act payment clarification).
The House Insurance & Commerce Committee disposed of multiple technical and consumer‑protection measures in addition to the longer hearings on earned‑wage‑access, PBMs, and brain‑injury rehabilitation. On voice votes the committee approved the following items:
• HB13‑67 — Sponsor: Representative Warren. Clarifies that circuit clerks remain custodians of public records in electronic transfer, prevents third‑party watermarking/ownership claims on public documents, and implements a capped monthly fee arrangement for transfers to title agents (committee adopted an amendment to add Senator Penzo as the senate sponsor). (Motion to pass and voice vote recorded.)
• HB15‑95 — Sponsor: Trey Steinle. Arkansas Insurance Department omnibus technical corrections (passed by voice vote).
• SB236 — Sponsor: Trey Steinle. Insurance holding company regulatory act to align Arkansas with national standards and enhance review of holding companies (passed by voice vote).
• HB14‑88 — Sponsor: Representative Wardlaw (amendment). Limits insurer holds on life‑insurance policy funds to 30 days or require bonding/interest if held longer; sponsor said many constituents report multi‑month holds of policyholder funds; committee passed the amended bill by voice vote.
• HB15‑87 — Sponsor: Lee Johnson. Clarifies 'any willing provider' to include both pharmacists and pharmacies; passed by voice vote.
• HB12‑98 — Sponsor: Lee Johnson. Clarifies No Surprises Act dispute resolution payments should be remitted to the health‑care provider rather than the patient; passed by voice vote.
All actions were recorded in committee via voice votes; the transcript does not include roll‑call tallies for these items. The committee adjourned after the calendar was completed.
