1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2147 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1084
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to modernization of insurance laws.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2147 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1084
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1084) of Bruce
J. Ayers relative to the designation of beneficiaries for life insurance policies. Financial
Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 932 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to modernization of insurance laws.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 123 of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the
2second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:
3 No life insurance company shall accept or take action on any request to change the
4designation of beneficiary under any policy of life or endowment insurance unless the identity of
5the person requesting the change is verified by the insurance company to the extent reasonable
6and practicable. Verification may include a disinterested person witnessing the signature of the
7person requesting the change, or other proof acceptable to the insurance company. For purposes
8of this section, a disinterested person is one who is over eighteen years of age and not designated
9as a beneficiary in the requested change. Upon receipt and acceptance of the change of 2 of 2
10designation of beneficiary, the insurance company shall provide written notice of the change to
11the policy owner at the owner's last known address.