NAIFA-CA Bill Passed

By NAIFA

NAIFA-California is pleased to report that its co-sponsored bill, AB 943 (Rodriquez), has passed the Assembly and is now pending in the Senate.

What does AB 943 (Rodriquez) do?

This measure would streamline pre-licensing education by reducing time-based requirements to 12 hours, while reinforcing professional and ethical standards through robust testing. Key benefits include:

• Increased Accessibility: A shorter, more focused curriculum lowers entry barriers for individuals with limited financial and scheduling flexibility, expanding pathways to economic self-reliance.

• Enhanced Workforce Development: By eliminating duplicative content and emphasizing Ethics and the Code, the proposal prioritizes real-world decisionmaking skills that directly benefit both consumers and professionals.

• Alignment with National Best Practices: As only 19 states still impose pre-licensing mandates, this reform modernizes California’s licensing process, keeping pace with industry trends and ensuring that professional standards are maintained without unnecessary burdens.

By adopting this measure, California can support a more diverse and economically self-sufficient insurance workforce

By adopting this measure, California can support a more diverse and economically self-sufficient insurance workforce, empowering individuals to build sustainable careers while ensuring consumer protection and professional accountability.

NAIFA-California continues to oppose two Senate Bills that are still moving through the process – SB 242 (Blakespear) related to Medigap and SB 354 (Limon) related to Insurance Information Privacy Protection Act (IIPPA).

What does SB 242 (Blakespear) do?

This measure would require a new 90-day annual enrollment period with guaranteed issue for seniors seeking to purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). NAIFA-California opposed the bill, since it would significantly increase premiums for seniors and would likely reduce access to coverage by driving competition out of the Medicare marketplace as we have seen in other states that have implemented similar enrollment requirements.

What does SB 354 (Limon) do?

This measure would make significant revisions to the Insurance Information Privacy Protection Act (IIPPA). In doing so, the bill introduces several provisions that pose significant challenges for insurers and agents and, in some instances, could have unintended negative consequences for consumers. These provisions would impose excessive regulatory burdens on insurers and businesses, creating operational inefficiencies, potential privacy risks, and confusion among consumers.

Both SB 242 and SB 354 are pending in the Senate Appropriations and could be held by the committee next week or amended to try to address some of our concerns. If they pass, they will go to the Senate floor for consideration before the House of Origin deadline on June 6, 2025.