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HR 659

House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform; create

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jon Burns and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a temporary House committee to study and recommend actions to improve insurance affordability, transparency, and competition.

House Withdrawn, Recommitted
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Bill Summary · HR 659

Summary — H.R. 659 (House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform)

Status: House Withdrawn, Recommitted
Introduced: January 23, 2025
Classification: Resolution (House study committee)
Primary sponsors (per bill text): Representatives Eddie Lumsden (12th) and Jon Burns (159th)

Purpose

H.R. 659 creates a temporary House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform to examine current insurance market conditions (premiums, rate‑setting, profit margins, claims processing, competition, and regulatory compliance) and to recommend legislative or other actions to improve affordability, transparency, and competition in the insurance market.

Key provisions

  • Creation: Establishes the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform.
  • Membership:
    • Original version: 7 legislative members (appointed by the Speaker) + 4 nonlegislative members appointed by the Speaker. Speaker designates chair and vice‑chair.
    • Committee substitute: 8 legislative members + 3 nonlegislative members; Speaker still designates leadership.
  • Powers and duties: Study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems in the insurance market as described in the preamble; recommend any action or legislation the committee deems appropriate.
  • Meetings: Chairperson calls meetings; committee may meet at times and places necessary to carry out its work.
  • Allowances and expenses:
    • Legislative members receive allowances per Code Section 28‑1‑8 (limited to 5 days unless extended).
    • Substitute adds detail: nonlegislative state officials/employees receive no compensation but may be reimbursed; non‑state nonlegislative members receive a daily expense allowance and mileage per specified code.
  • Reporting:
    • If the committee adopts findings/recommendations (including proposed legislation) it must file a report before abolition.
    • Reports require majority approval of a quorum; in absence of an approved report, the chair may file meeting minutes instead.
  • Sunset: Committee abolished on December 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • Consumers (individuals, low‑/middle‑income families, seniors on fixed incomes) and small businesses — primary beneficiaries of potential reforms to affordability and access.
  • Insurance companies and dominant market participants — subject of scrutiny and possible recommended regulation or market reforms.
  • State regulatory bodies and the General Assembly — recipients of committee findings and potential sponsors of follow‑up legislation.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Committee is temporary and must conclude by December 1, 2025.
  • The Speaker appoints members and leadership; funding comes from House appropriations.
  • Current status: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (per request).

Substitute differences (high level)

  • Increases legislative membership from 7 to 8 and reduces nonlegislative appointees from 4 to 3.
  • Adds explicit reimbursement/expense rules for nonlegislative members and clarifies allowances for nonlegislative participants.

Potential impact

The committee’s study could lead to draft legislation addressing premium increases, rate‑setting transparency, competition, and consumer protections. Because the committee is short‑lived, substantive reforms would require follow‑on legislative action by the General Assembly based on its report.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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