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Bill

S 676

Relates to regulating the purchase and sale of catalytic converters

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Monica Martinez

Caries: The bill updates dental insurance regulation by applying explicit RBC caps and market size categories, while allowing waiver of certain reporting with notice.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 676

Summary — S.676 (2025): “An Act relative to dental insurance”

Note: the metadata provided for this bill contains multiple inconsistencies (title referencing catalytic converters, differing sponsor names, and conflicting committee referrals). This summary is based on the official bill text filed as Senate Docket No. 1577 and labeled “An Act relative to dental Insurance,” which amends Chapter 176X of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Purpose

The bill revises statutory rules governing dental insurance carriers under Chapter 176X. Its stated intent is to (1) adjust certain triggers and classifications used in regulatory oversight, (2) specify how risk‑based capital (RBC) models apply to various types of insurers that write dental business, and (3) clarify the commissioner’s authority to waive reporting requirements with legislative notice.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1
    • Removes the phrase “or if a carrier’s reported contribution to surplus exceeds 1.9 per cent” from Section 2(d) of Chapter 176X. (This deletes a statutory trigger tied to a reported surplus contribution threshold.)
  • Section 2
    • Replaces Section 3(a)(i) to define market group size categories explicitly: individual; small groups of 2–50; and large groups greater than 50.
  • Section 3
    • Strikes Section 3(c) in its entirety (text removed is not provided in the version excerpt).
  • Section 4
    • Amends Section 3(e) to add RBC model application rules:
    • Life insurers apply the RBC model per 211 CMR 20.00.
    • Life and other multi‑line carriers whose majority liabilities are in non‑dental or non‑Massachusetts lines shall not exceed 700% of their Company Action Level (CAL) as defined in 211 CMR 20.00.
    • Massachusetts‑based health and dental‑only carriers shall apply the RBC model per 211 CMR 25.
  • Section 5
    • Replaces Section 3(f) to allow the Commissioner of Insurance to waive specific reporting requirements for carriers unable to provide required information, provided the commissioner gives written notice of any such waiver to:
    • the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, and
    • the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means.

Who is affected

  • Dental insurance carriers operating in Massachusetts (including those offering individual, small‑group, and large‑group products).
  • Life and multi‑line insurers that also carry dental business, especially those with most liabilities outside dental or outside Massachusetts (subject to a 700% CAL cap).
  • Massachusetts‑based health and dental‑only carriers (subject to 211 CMR 25 RBC rules).
  • The Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance and relevant legislative oversight committees (as recipients of waiver notices).

Potential impacts

  • Clarifies market segmentation (individual / 2–50 / >50), which can affect rating, reporting, and regulatory treatment.
  • The removal of the 1.9% surplus contribution clause may broaden or alter the circumstances under which prior reporting or regulatory requirements applied (specific effect depends on the omitted context in Section 2(d)).
  • Establishes an explicit RBC cap (700% of CAL) for certain carriers, which could constrain how much capital leverage those carriers maintain relative to regulatory action levels.
  • Provides the commissioner flexibility to waive reporting requirements while ensuring legislative oversight via notification.

Procedural status and timeline (from provided records)

  • Filed as Senate Docket No. 1577: 01/16/2025 (bill text).
  • Introduced in Senate: 02/20/2025 (read twice; referred).
  • Listed referrals (conflicting records): Committee on Foreign Relations; Committee on Financial Services; Transportation (multiple entries show different referrals).
  • House concurred: 02/27/2025 (per provided actions).
  • Hearing scheduled: 10/27/2025, 10:30 AM–4:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium.
  • Current recorded status: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION (per header), but committee assignment appears inconsistent in the docket entries.

If you want, I can:
- Compare the changes here to the existing text of Chapter 176X and summarize the exact statutory before/after language impact.
- Prepare a short briefing on likely industry reactions (insurers, brokers, consumer advocates).

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

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