March 28, 2017

The last ten days have been very busy and hectic at the 65th Montana Legislature and will continue to be so as they look for money and budget cuts. However, it is possible that the insurance related bills are done being in traduced and it is time to review coming to conclusion.  We continue to watch the bill status and activities as well as business and tax issues that could affect insurance agents or the industry.

With the late introduction of the major Workers’ Compensation bill, your Legislative Committee has been very busy reviewing talking points and providing guidance to your government relations person and association staff.  With all these efforts and coalition-building work that was done with other business entities and business trade organizations, it appears that we have been successful so far.

Below you will find a list of current bills being monitored by your lobbyist, legislative committee, staff and leadership. Bill numbers are linked to the detailed information page for each bill.

View the current bill text by clicking on the links next to the Bill Draft Number. Look for the pointing finger icon:

HB 24
Providing protections to vulnerable persons from financial exploitation.
The bill passed both houses as amended and been signed by the Governor.

HB 73
Regulate certain air ambulance memberships as insurance.
The bill has passed the Senate with additional amendments and returned to the House as amended.

HB 123
Require certain insurance disclosures to minimize surprise bills.
This bill passed the house and been concurred in as amended by the Senate and returned to the House as amended.

HB 137
Generally revise securities and insurance laws pertaining to the State Auditor.
This bill has passed both houses and forwarded to the Governor.  The IIAM supports the Bill as amended.
 

HB 138 
Revise licensing of general insurance agent laws.
The Governor signed This bill.  The IIAM Supported this bill as amended.

HB 142 
Revise insurance law to give mental health coverage parity with physical health.
The bill passed the House with a 50-49 and was heard in (S) Public Health Welfare and Safety 3/27/17.    

HB 144
Generally revise motor vehicle laws.
The bill passed the House and is amended and passed from (S) Highways and Transportation.  However, the bill was taken from second reason and sent back to (S) Highways and Transportation.

HB 145 
Adopt NAIC model legislation regarding Annuities.  
Passed the Senate as amended and returned to the House with amendments.

HB 165 
Revise punitive damage laws.
Passed the House as significantly amended and tabled in (S) Judiciary.

HB 266 
Authorize interstate healthcare compact.
Passed the House and was heard in (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety 3/15/17.

HB 267
Revise laws related to bicycles on roadways.
Passed the House and may be dead in the Senate, establishes distances vehicles must stay from bicycles.

HB 291
Prohibit certain underwriting factors for private passenger insurance.
Died on Third Reading in the House on a vote of 48-52.  The IIAM strongly opposed this bill.

HB 342 
Revise business laws related to liability and agritourism.
Bill passed both houses and signed by the Governor.

HB 346
Designate fiscal agent as employer for workers’ compensation insurance.
Bill passed both houses and signed by the Governor.

HB 358
Revise workers' compensation laws pertaining to release of information.
Passed both houses and will be forwarded to the Governor.

HB 400
Require disclosure of health care prices.
Passed the House and tabled in (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety.

HB 427
Clarify property owner not liable for firefighter acts.
Passed the House and concurred with (S) Judiciary.

HB 449
Revise the definition of wages in workers' compensation insurance.
Passed the House and remains in (S) Business Labor, and Economic Affairs Co.

HB 581
Establish an uninsured motorist victims restitution fund.
Tabled in (H) Judiciary.

HB 598
Limit capital gains income tax credit.
Tabled in (H) Taxation Committee.

HB 640
Statewide sales tax, elimination of income taxes, and reduction of vehicle fees.
The bill has been assigned to the House Taxation Committee. We will try and make sure insurance is exempt from any sales tax.

SB 44
Provide process to hold patients harmless from balance billing by air ambulance .
This bill has been significantly amended Passed the Senate and scheduled for heard in (H) Business and Labor 3/23/17.

SB 58
Prohibit the use of $0 claims for insurance policy cancellation or renewal.
The Bill has passed both houses as amended and will be forwarded to the Governor. The amendments include some of the industry requested amendments.

SB 72
Create presumptive illness for firefighters.
Passed the Senate with amendments and was tabled in (H) Business and Labor.  

SB 96
Right to shop act for health care services.
Passed the Senate with amendments and remains in (H) Human Services Co.   

SB 107 
Provide liability limits for emergency care by volunteer emergency responders.
Passed the House and Senate and forwarded to the Governor.

SB 116 
Disallowing workers' compensation benefits for certain false statements.
Passed the Senate and Concurred in by the House.

SB 118
Provide for uniform act regarding fiduciary access to digital assets, providing some immunity.
Passed the Senate as amended and concurred in by (H) Judiciary.

SB 129 
Require insurance coverage of teledentistry.
Passed the Senate and the House and signed by the Governor. 

SB 142
Revise laws related to volunteer emergency personnel and worker's comp insurance.
Passed the Senate and House and signed by the Governor.

SB 167
Generally revise laws pertaining to insurance offenses.
Passed the Senate and concurred in by(H).                                          

SB 179
Revise offer of judgment laws.
Passed the Senate and scheduled for hearing in (H) Judiciary 3/29/17.  

SB 184
Revise workers compensation to allow termination of payments due to fraud.
Passed the Senate and concurred in by (H) Business and Labor and should go to the floor in the house.  

SB 212
Revise mature defensive driving laws.
Passed the Senate and tabled in (H) Business and Labor. The bill would have expanded this program to all drivers and mandate the discount from 2 to 3 years and the IIAM opposed the bill.  

SB 222
Revise insurance laws relating to annuity surrender fees.
Passed both houses and will be forwarded to the Governor.  

SB 245
Generally, revise Montana captive insurance laws .
Passed the Senate and concurred in by (H) Business and Labor.  

SB 293
Revise interest payments in civil cases.
Passed the Senate as amended and scheduled heard in (H) Judiciary Co. 3/22/17.  

SB 298
Revise workers compensation relating to religious individuals and entities.
Passed the Senate and tabled in (H) Business and Labor Co.  

SB 340
Authorize choice for out-of-state health care insurance.
Passed the Senate and referred to (H) Human Services Committee.  

SB 345
Provide for high deductible health insurance thru reimbursements and tax credits.
Heard in (S) Business, Labor and Economic then referred to (H) Finance and Claims Committee.  

SB 362
Requiring transparency in health care pricing.
Heard in (S) Business, Labor and Economic Development 3/27/17.  

SB 369
Create a study commission on the state fund.
Heard in Senate Business, Labor and Economic Development 3/24/17 and tabled in Committee.  IIAM Supported this bill.  

SB 371
Revise workers' compensation insurance and dissolve the state fund.
Heard in Senate Business, Labor and Economic Development 3/24/17 and tabled in Committee.  IIAM strongly opposed this bill.