Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2043

Introduced
1/21/25  
Refer
1/21/25  
Report Pass
1/30/25  
Engrossed
2/10/25  
Refer
2/11/25  

Caption

Requiring agents and insurers to respond to inquiries from the commissioner of insurance within 14 calendar days and authorizing certain rebate pilot programs to exceed one year in duration.

Impact

The bill is expected to significantly impact state laws related to insurance practices. By amending existing statutes, this legislation aims to prevent misleading representations and ensure that potential violations of business conduct in the insurance sector are addressed swiftly. This promotes a more structured regulatory framework, aimed at safeguarding consumers against unfair treatment while enhancing overall trust in insurance providers. The requirement for timely responses is particularly important in light of previous concerns about delays from insurers that could affect consumer protections.

Summary

House Bill 2043 addresses critical areas within the insurance industry in Kansas, specifically targeting unfair and deceptive acts or practices. The bill mandates that agents and insurers must respond to inquiries from the commissioner of insurance within 14 calendar days. This strict timeline is designed to enhance accountability and ensure timely communication between insurance entities and regulatory bodies. In addition, the bill permits pilot programs for rebates to exceed a duration of one year, which may incentivize insurers to offer new products or services aimed at increasing consumer engagement and satisfaction.

Contention

Discussion surrounding HB 2043 may center on the balance between ensuring regulation and the operational flexibility of insurance companies. Supporters argue that the swift communication requirements would lead to better consumer outcomes and improved practices within the industry. Critics, however, could contend that imposing strict timelines might burden smaller insurance entities, potentially stifling innovation and adaptability. Moreover, the allowance for pilot rebate programs may lead to contention over the equitable distribution of benefits among consumers, especially in how regulations might affect pricing strategies and market competition.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB397

Eliminating annual controlled business reporting requirements placed on title agents and insurers.

KS HB2404

Enacting the Kansas protection of pensions and businesses against ideological interference act, relating to ideological boycotts involving environmental, social or governance standards, requiring KPERS to divest from and prohibiting state contracts or the deposit of state moneys with entities engaged in such boycotts as determined by the state treasurer and prohibiting discriminatory practices in the financial services industry based on such boycotts.

KS SB224

Enacting the Kansas protection of pensions and businesses against ideological interference act, relating to ideological boycotts involving environmental, social or governance standards, requiring KPERS to divest from and prohibiting state contracts or the deposit of state moneys with entities engaged in such boycotts as determined by the state treasurer and prohibiting discriminatory practices in the financial services industry based on such boycotts.

KS HB2715

Authorizing the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees and requiring the publication of such fees in the Kansas register.

KS SB398

Authorizing the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees and requiring the publication of such fees in the Kansas register.

KS SB233

House Substitute for SB 233 by Committee on Health and Human Services - Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare providers from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare providers for providing such treatments, requiring professional discipline against a healthcare provider who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.

KS HB2791

Enacting the forbidding abuse child transitions act, restricting use of state funds to promote gender transitioning, prohibiting healthcare professionals from treating children whose gender identity is inconsistent with the child's sex, authorizing a civil cause of action against healthcare professionals for providing such treatments, authorizing professional discipline against a physician who performs such treatment, prohibiting professional liability insurance from covering damages for healthcare providers that provide gender transition treatment to children and adding violation of the act to the definition of unprofessional conduct for physicians and nurses.

KS SB423

Reducing the number of appointed board members on certain insurance-related governing boards and the frequency of meetings of the the committee on surety bonds and insurance.

KS HB2247

Senate Substitute for HB 2247 by Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance - Modifying certain terms, definitions, deadlines and provisions contained in the uniform consumer credit code and transferring mortgage provisions from the uniform consumer credit code to the Kansas mortgage business act.

KS HB2598

Substitute for HB 2598 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Authorizing the Kansas real estate commission to issue cease and desist orders, prohibiting dealing in assignable contracts for certain residential real estate and providing that certain violations thereof are subject to the Kansas consumer protection act, regulating contract for deed transactions, authorizing recording of contract for deeds or affidavits of equitable interest, listing deceptive practices constituting violations of the consumer protection act, requiring notice to the buyer of default and allowing buyers to cure such default.

Similar Bills

KS SB23

Requiring agents and insurers to respond to inquiries from the commissioner of insurance within 14 calendar days and authorizing certain rebate pilot programs to exceed one year in duration.

KS SB42

Providing for the establishment of a web-based online insurance verification system for the verification of evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance, eliminating the requirement that the commissioner of insurance submit certain reports to the governor and requiring certain reports be available on the insurance department's website, removing certain entities from the definition of person for the purpose of enforcing insurance law, requiring that third party administrators maintain separate fiduciary accounts for individual payors and prohibiting the commingling of funds held on behalf of multiple payors, requiring the disclosure to the commissioner of insurance of any bankruptcy petition filed by or on behalf of such administrator pursuant to the United State bankruptcy code, requiring title agents to make their reports available for inspection upon request of the commissioner of insurance instead of submitting such reports annually, standardizing the amount of surety bonds filed with the commissioner of insurance at $100,000 and eliminating the small business exemption in certain counties.

KS SB397

Eliminating annual controlled business reporting requirements placed on title agents and insurers.

RI H7752

Surplus Lines Insurance

RI S2746

Surplus Lines Insurance

HI HB942

Relating To Insurance.

CA AB1089

Credit services organizations.

KS SB55

Prohibiting the assignment of benefits under certain property and casualty insurance contracts and defining such assignment of benefits as an unfair method of competition and unfair or deceptive act or practice.