Bill
H 3934
Establishes the Town of Plymouth Land Bank to acquire, hold, and manage real property to preserve and create deed-restricted affordable housing and related uses.
Summary of H 3934 — Materials provided contain two distinct legislative texts (a South Carolina “cost‑sharing” bill and a Massachusetts local bill establishing a Plymouth Land Bank). The source materials appear to have been combined; below are concise, separate summaries for each measure and a note on procedural status and data gaps.
1) South Carolina bill — “Cost sharing” (adds S.C. Code §§ 38‑71‑295 and 38‑71‑2270)
Purpose and intent
- To define “cost sharing” and related terms and to require insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to apply federal annual limits on enrollee cost‑sharing consistently, including when third parties (e.g., charities, manufacturers) pay some or all of an enrollee’s cost sharing.
Key provisions
- Definitions: cost sharing (copay, coinsurance, deductible, similar charges), enrollee, healthcare service, health plan, insurer, PBM and pharmacy benefit management services.
- Requires that the annual limitation on cost sharing under 42 U.S.C. § 18022(c)(1) applies to all healthcare services covered by plans issued/offered in the state (explicitly including plans administered by PBMs).
- When calculating an enrollee’s contribution, insurers/PBMs must count cost‑sharing amounts paid by the enrollee or on the enrollee’s behalf by another person.
- HSA interaction: if applying this rule would make an enrollee ineligible for Health Savings Account (HSA) status under IRC §223, the requirement applies to HDHP deductibles only after the minimum deductible has been met; preventive services per IRC §223(c)(2)(C) are treated differently (applies regardless of minimum deductible).
- Exceptions: subsection (C) does not apply to a brand drug when a medically appropriate generic exists, unless the enrollee accessed the brand via prior authorization, step therapy exception or similar processes.
- Prohibits insurers/TPAs from setting plan design terms based on availability/amount of third‑party financial or product assistance for a drug.
- Effective date for plans entered/renewed/extended on or after January 1, 2026.
- Grants the insurance director rule‑making authority; regulation limited to extent permissible under federal law.
Who is affected
- Insurers, third‑party administrators and PBMs operating in the state; health plan enrollees (patients); pharmacies and drug manufacturers (indirectly); employers that sponsor plans.
Potential impacts
- Increased transparency/standardization in applying charitable/manufacturer assistance toward out‑of‑pocket limits; compliance costs for insurers/PBMs; potential interactions with HSA eligibility and plan design; possible reduction in patient out‑of‑pocket exposure when assistance counts towards limits.
Procedural/timeline notes (from provided text)
- Applies to plans entered/amended/renewed on/after Jan 1, 2026.
- Director may promulgate rules.
2) Massachusetts bill (House No. 3934) — “An Act establishing the town of Plymouth Land Bank”
Purpose and intent
- To establish a Town of Plymouth Land Bank to acquire, hold and manage real property interests to promote affordable housing and other enumerated land uses for the town.
Key provisions (from the provided excerpt)
- Definitions: Affordable Housing (deed‑restricted SF/MF housing eligible for Massachusetts Subsidized Housing Inventory; purchase/rent cost not to exceed 60% of HUD AMI for Plymouth), Land Bank Commission, Fund (Town of Plymouth Land Bank Fund), Purchase price (broadly defined), Real Property Interest, Purchaser, Seller, Time of Transfer, Transfer, Residence, Institutional Lender, appointing authorities, and land use categories.
- Affordable housing may include age‑restricted or veterans housing at the Commission’s discretion.
- Establishes a Land Bank Commission (membership/appointment details referenced but truncated) and a dedicated Fund (details located in section eight, not provided).
Who is affected
- Town of Plymouth, current and prospective property owners, developers, housing organizations, low‑ and moderate‑income households (targeted beneficiaries), municipal boards that appoint commissioners.
Potential impacts
- Provides local acquisition and financing capacity to preserve/create deed‑restricted affordable housing eligible for the state SHI, potentially advancing the town’s affordable housing goals.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Filed: 1/15/2025. “Local Approval Received.” Text provided is truncated; full powers, governance, funding mechanisms, financing authority and use restrictions are in sections beyond the excerpt.
Important caveats and recommended follow‑up
- The packet you provided mixes two separate measures (a South Carolina insurance/cost‑sharing bill and a Massachusetts local land bank bill). Legislative action dates and sponsor lists in your materials correspond to the South Carolina measure. Please confirm which jurisdiction and bill you want prioritized.
- For legal/administrative detail (funding mechanisms, enforcement, full membership/appointment rules, penalties), consult the official bill text on the relevant state legislature website or request the complete, untruncated bill text.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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