Bills to watch: Insurance documents and program cuts

HB 1058 Electronic delivery of insurance documents
Right now, information about insurance cannot be sent online in Indiana.

This legislation will allow people to opt in to receive notices and insurance documents via electronic means. This includes email or access to a secure website set up by the insurance provider.

At the beginning of the session, bill author Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, said this is important because most people do not communicate primarily by U.S. Mail anymore, but the regulations surrounding the insurance industry in Indiana have not adapted to modern communication technology.

Status: The House of Representatives and Senate passed the bill unanimously and without any changes. Now, it must be approved by Gov. Mike Pence.

Authors: Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, and Rep. Christina Hale, D-Indianapolis

HB 1005 Government reduction
This bill ends or changes a variety of state programs.

Indiana would pull out of the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, an agreement entered into by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It also would repeal certain provisions related to addiction treatment and remove some other more detailed regulations related to how insurance is filed by foreign insurers.

As a result of the reductions, there would be minimal decreases in spending for the relevant state agencies, including the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Department of Labor and Indiana Department of Insurance, according to the Statehouse Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis.

Status: After passing the House 79-15 and the Senate 42-6, the bill is in conference committee starting today at 2:30 p.m. Monday. Representatives of each house and party will hammer out the differences between the versions passed by each house.

Author: Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville