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Heated testimony for and against expanding UTPA to insurers at House hearing
Summary
Supporters including Rep. April Dobson and Attorney General Dan Rayfield urged the committee to bring insurers under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act to give consumers private enforcement; industry groups warned it would drive litigation and raise premiums. The committee took extensive public testimony but did not vote.
The House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection heard hours of testimony Feb. 5 on HB 4,098, a bill that would subject certain insurance-related practices to Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA).
Sponsor Rep. April Dobson (House District 31) opened the hearing and framed HB 4,098 as a consumer-protection measure that would put insurance on the same enforcement footing as many other industries. "HB 4,098 would give insurance consumers the same access to justice that already exists in 33 states," Dobson said, adding that Oregon policyholders receive about 62 cents back in homeowners insurance claims for every dollar in premiums compared with 71 cents nationally.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, appearing online, testified in support and told the committee his office receives a steady stream of insurance complaints. "From 2020 to present, it was 738 complaints come into our office," he…
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