Oregon Agents Advocate - March 24th
Published March 24, 2025 at 8:51 AM · Legislative Advocacy - Oregon
This week marked the first significant milestone of the legislative session. By 5:00 p.m. on March 21, any bill that had not been scheduled for a work session is effectively out of consideration for the remainder of the session. However, it’s important to remember that this deadline does not apply to bills in the Revenue, Rules, or Ways & Means committees, or any joint committees.
Looking ahead, all bills must pass out of their chamber of origin by April 9 to remain viable—otherwise, they’ll face the same outcome.
Key Wins for the Insurance Industry:
- HB 3423 (Dead!) – Would have prohibited the use of credit scores, gender, and marital status in underwriting motor vehicle policies.
- SB 340 (Dead!) – Would have banned insurers from canceling fire insurance policies or increasing premiums by more than 3% for properties in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
- HB 2562 (Dead!) – Would have required DCBS to collect a series of data related to the underwriting practices & criteria involved in issuing motor vehicle liability insurance policies. Thanks to the insurance lobby, DCBS will instead be conducting a study with criteria developed through rulemaking in the industry.
- HB 2744 (Dead!) – Would have prohibited considering preexisting health conditions when writing pet insurance.
Updates on Remaining Bills:
- SB 174 – Insurance agents have secured an exemption on SB 174, which will protect them from further litigation efforts if this bill comes to fruition. The amendment will be voted on for adoption Tuesday, March 25.
- HB 2563 – After hearing feedback from stakeholders, DCBS is in the process of drafting amendments that would alleviate much of the burden on the reporting requirements for insurance premium increases.
Leadership Changes in State Agencies:
Governor Tina Kotek announced several high-level appointments this week:
- Betsy Imholt, Director of the Oregon Department of Revenue, will now lead the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.
- David Gerstenfeld, current Director of the Oregon Employment Department, will step into Imholt’s role at the Department of Revenue.
- Andrew Stolfi, Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) and Oregon’s Insurance Commissioner will become Director of the Employment Department. He plans to transition out of his DCBS role in June.
ARTICLES
- Kotek Names Betsy Imholt States Top Bueaucrat
- Oregon Bill To Give Striking Workers Unemployment Pay Passes Senate
- Oregon Lawmakers Share $38 Billion Budget Framework Amid Federal Uncertainty
- Oregon Lawmakers Propose Wildfire Funding Solutions Bill
- Oregon Health Insurers, Hospitals Oppose Bill To Establish Oversight By State Justice Department
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES:
Apr. 9 – First Chamber Deadline
May 9 – Work Session Deadline
May 23 - Second Chamber Deadline
BAD BILLS TRACKER
Relating to violations of the Insurance Code as unlawful trade practices.
Provides that a violation of prohibitions against certain practices with respect to insurance is subject to an enforcement action under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
Relating to business practices that reduce access to health care in this state; prescribing an effective date.
Authorizes the Attorney General, at the Attorney General's own initiative, but in consultation and cooperation with the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, to investigate and bring an action against a health insurer or affiliate of a health insurer in a court of this state to enforce a violation of the antitrust laws of this state, to obtain damages, a civil penalty or restitution, and to enjoin an act or practice that constitutes a monopoly, a business combination in restraint of trade or commerce or a substantial reduction or elimination of competition or competitors within a region or market of this state, or that otherwise constitutes an unlawful trade practice.
Relating to explanations required in connection with premium increases upon renewals of certain insurance policies; prescribing an effective date.
Requires an insurer to provide to an insured a clear and reasonable explanation of the reasons for any increase in the premium amount for a qualified policy upon renewal of the qualified policy.
Relating to litigation costs for prevailing claimants.
Removes the cap on reasonable litigation costs and expenses and attorney fees for a claimant who prevails in a workers' compensation dispute.
Relating to prohibiting geographic tracking in connection with motor vehicle liability insurance policies; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits insurers from using any device or technology that records, discloses or allows access to information that tracks or reveals the geographic location of an insured during any time in which the insured is occupying or operating a motor vehicle that the motor vehicle liability insurance policy covers.
Relating to medical debt reporting.
Prohibits medical service providers from reporting the amount or existence of medical debt to a consumer reporting agency.
Relating to occupational disease.
Adds certain health care employees to the list of workers for whom certain stress disorders give rise to a presumption that a workers' compensation claim is compensable as an occupational disease.
Relating to insurance for unmanned aircraft systems; prescribing an effective date; providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.
Requires commercial operators of unmanned aircraft systems to maintain liability insurance.
HB 3423 DEAD
Relating to information permitted for insurer's decisions concerning motor vehicle liability insurance; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits an insurer from using any of the following when determining eligibility, premiums or rates for a motor vehicle liability insurance policy: an applicant’s or insured’s credit history, including an insurance score based on the applicant’s or insured’s credit history; an applicant’s or insured’s sex or gender; or an applicant’s or insured’s marital status
HB 2744 DEAD
Relating to exclusions of insurance coverage for veterinary services on the basis of a preexisting condition; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits insurers that issue a policy of insurance that provides coverage or benefits to an insured for veterinary services for the insured's pet from excluding, limiting or reducing the coverage or benefits on the basis of a preexisting condition that affects the pet's health or physical condition.
HB 2786 DEAD
Relating to compensation for accrued leave upon termination of employment.
Requires employers who provide sick leave, vacation leave or personal business leave benefits to employees to compensate employees for all earned but unused accrued leave when employment terminates
HB 2562 DEAD
Relating to underwriting practices for motor vehicle liability insurance policies in this state; prescribing an effective date.
Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to collect a series of data related to the underwriting practices and criteria involved in issuing motor vehicle liability insurance policies in this state
HB 2962 DEAD
Relating to minimum wage rates; prescribing an effective date.
Provides for calculation of the minimum wage rate beginning July 1, 2026.
SB 60 DEAD
Relating to the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
Exempts claims based on conduct that constitutes child abuse, or conduct that constitutes knowingly allowing, permitting or encouraging child abuse, from the notice requirement of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
SB 340 DEAD
Relating to fire insurance that covers properties at particular risk of wildfires; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits an insurer from canceling fire insurance policies, or raising policy premiums by more than three percent, if an insured's property is located within the wildland-urban interface or the insured's primary employment or economic or business activity is farming or resource extraction.
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