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Bill

HB 2144

Insurance; Insurance Consumers Protection Act; cause of action; bad faith; damages; jury; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Kannady and 1 co-sponsor

HB 2144 creates consumer lawsuit rights against Oklahoma insurers for bad faith claim denials with potential jury trials and damages awards.

Coauthored by Senator McIntosh
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2144

Legislative bill overview

HB 2144 modifies Oklahoma's Insurance Consumers Protection Act to establish or strengthen the legal grounds for consumers to sue insurance companies for bad faith claim denials. The bill appears to create or clarify a private cause of action allowing policyholders to pursue damages, potentially including jury trials, when insurers unreasonably deny or delay claim payments.

Why is this important

Insurance bad faith disputes directly affect consumers' ability to recover legitimate claims and hold insurers accountable. This legislation impacts how quickly and fairly Oklahomans can access insurance benefits during emergencies (medical crises, property damage, accidents) and determines whether disputes are resolved through courts or alternative mechanisms. It also affects insurance industry operations and premium pricing across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "bad faith": Defining what constitutes bad faith versus legitimate claim disputes is contentious; overly broad definitions may increase frivolous litigation, while narrow ones may inadequately protect consumers
  • Damages and jury trials: Allowing jury trials and expansive damages awards could significantly increase insurer liability costs, potentially raising premiums for all policyholders to offset industry losses
  • Litigation burden: Expanded causes of action may overwhelm courts with consumer lawsuits, creating delays and higher litigation costs that get passed to consumers through higher premiums or reduced coverage options

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

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