INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION ELECTED OFFICIAL

An Act prohibiting certain insurance decisions based solely on a person's status as an elected official.

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES MCCABE, Rauscher
Last action: 2025-01-22
Official status: (H) STA
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Insurance Protection for Elected Officials

This bill stops insurance companies from making decisions about coverage based only on whether someone is an elected official.

What This Bill Does

It says that insurance companies cannot refuse to give or renew insurance just because a person is an elected official.
Insurance companies are not allowed to limit what the insurance covers, cancel policies, deny claims, or raise prices for elected officials based solely on their status as elected officials.
There are exceptions if decisions about coverage are based on sound business reasons related to risk or required by law.

Who It Names or Affects

Insurance companies in Alaska
Elected officials including members of the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, and mayors

Terms To Know

elected official: A person who is chosen by voters to hold a public office such as a member of the state's congressional delegation or a city mayor.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an insurance company violates these rules.
It only applies to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after its effective date.

Bill History

2025-01-22 32
(H) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS
2025-01-22 32
(H) STA, L&C
2025-01-22 32
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2025-01-22 32
(H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

Official Summary Text

INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION ELECTED OFFICIAL
An Act prohibiting certain insurance decisions based solely on a person's status as an elected official.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0005a -1- HB 5
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0158\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 5

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES MCCABE, Rauscher

Introduced: 1/22/25
Referred: State Affairs, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act prohibiting certain insurance decisions based solely on a person's status as an 1
elected official." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 21.36 is amended by adding a new section to article 5 to read: 4
Sec. 21.36.525. Decisions based on elected official status. (a) A person 5
transacting insurance in this state may not, solely because of a person's status as an 6
elected official, 7
(1) refuse to issue or renew insurance coverage; 8
(2) limit the scope of insurance coverage; 9
(3) cancel an existing policy of insurance; 10
(4) deny a covered claim; or 11
(5) increase the premium, policy fees, or rates charged on an insurance 12
policy. 13
(b) The provisions of (a) of this section do not apply if the refusal, limitation, 14
34-LS0158\A
HB 5 -2- HB0005a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

cancellation, denial, or increase is 1
(1) based on sound underwriting or actuarial principles reason ably 2
related to actual or anticipated loss experience; or 3
(2) required or authorized by law or regulation. 4
(c) In this section, "elected official" means a member of the legislature, the 5
governor, the lieutenant governor, a member of the state's cong ressional delegation, a 6
constitutional convention delegate, a borough or city mayor, or a member of a borough 7
or city assembly, council, or school board. 8
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 9
read: 10
APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to an insurance policy or contr act issued, 11
delivered, or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. 12