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HB 2048

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57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Selina Bliss

HB 2048 trims obsolete reporting and simplifies the enforcement definition of “person,” without changing substantive powers of the Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

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Bill Summary · HB 2048

Summary — HB 2048 (2025) — Insurance: reporting requirements and definition of “person”

Status: Motion to accede adopted; conference committee appointed (Senators Dietrich, Fagg, Francisco).
Introduced: January 23, 2025. Requested by: Kansas Insurance Department. Fiscal note: no fiscal effect (Division of the Budget).

Purpose / intent

HB 2048 modernizes and simplifies selected insurance statutes by:
- Removing certain reporting obligations that the Commissioner of Insurance currently must submit to the Governor (including an annual “general conduct and condition” report and an outdated 1993 electronic data interchange planning report); and
- Streamlining the statutory definition of “person” used in enforcement provisions so the statute no longer enumerates multiple specific entities under the Commissioner’s jurisdiction.

The changes are described by the Department as housekeeping to eliminate unnecessary or outdated statutory requirements and to simplify statutory language.

Key provisions

  • Amends K.S.A. 40-108 to eliminate the Commissioner’s duty to make an annual report to the Governor on the general conduct and condition of insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies doing business in Kansas. (The bill retains the Commissioner’s obligation to keep permanent records of proceedings and examinations.)
  • Amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 40-2,125 (enforcement/penalty statute) to revise the statutory definition of “person” used for enforcement of insurance law — removing references to a long enumerated list of specific entities and relying on more general language for entities under the Commissioner’s jurisdiction. (Insurance agents and brokers remain excluded from that definition, as currently defined in K.S.A. 40-4902.)
  • Amends K.S.A. 40-2253 to remove the requirement that the Commissioner report to the Governor and Legislature “no later than the commencement of the 1993 regular session” on development of uniform electronic data interchange formats and standards (an outdated requirement). The statute’s provisions on universal claim forms for accident and sickness policies remain.
  • Repeals the existing versions of K.S.A. 40-108, 40-2253 and K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 40-2,125 and replaces them with the amended language.
  • Effective date: upon publication in the Kansas Register (Senate committee amendment).

Who is affected

  • Kansas Insurance Department / Commissioner of Insurance: reduced statutorily required reporting to the Governor and removal of an outdated reporting deadline.
  • Insurers and other entities under the Commissioner’s jurisdiction: the bill changes statutory wording used in enforcement proceedings (clarifies/simplifies who qualifies as a “person” for penalties and orders). Agents and brokers remain excluded from that “person” definition.
  • No direct fiscal impact is expected, per the agency and Division of the Budget.

Procedural notes

  • Introduced by the House Committee on Insurance at the Department’s request; House committee placed it on the Consent Calendar.
  • Companion bill: SB 27 (Senate).
  • The Senate amended the bill to make it effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.
  • Current status (as provided): motion to accede adopted; conferees appointed to a conference committee (indicates House/Senate had differences to reconcile).

Practical effect

Primarily a technical/administrative cleanup: removes duplicative or obsolete reporting duties and simplifies enforcement language; it does not change the Commissioner’s substantive enforcement powers (penalty amounts, cease-and-desist authority, etc.) as set out in 40-2,125.

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

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