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Minnesota committee hears bill to allow limited CE credit for insurers serving on industry boards
Summary
House File 3389 would let licensed insurance producers receive up to four hours of continuing-education credit per licensing period for verified service on industry boards and committees, with Department of Commerce oversight. The Commerce Committee heard industry testimony and laid the bill over for further work.
Representative O'Driscoll introduced House File 3389 on Feb. 19 before the Minnesota House Commerce Committee, saying the bill would modernize continuing-education options for licensed professionals in regulated industries such as insurance, appraisal and real estate. He told committee members the proposal would allow insurance producers who serve on certain professional boards or committees to claim a portion of their continuing-education credits for that service, but not to meet the entire requirement by board service.
Laurie Gubash, president of NAFA Minnesota, testified in support and described board service as substantive work that advances regulatory knowledge, ethics and consumer protection. Gubash said the bill would limit such credit to four hours per licensing period, require verification and oversight, and would preserve separate ethics education requirements.
During questioning, members asked how the Department of Commerce would vet applications and verify participation. Representative O'Driscoll said the department's existing application process would require organizers to document meeting subject matter, attendance frequency and the testifier's role; he said advocates and the department would work together to formalize a verification process and that the department had signaled neutrality while offering to collaborate.
The committee voted to lay HF 3389 over for possible inclusion and follow-up amendments to clarify department oversight and verification language. No formal opposition speakers spoke during the hearing; the record includes letters of support from multiple insurance associations included with the testifier packet. The bill was laid over for further drafting and negotiation.
