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New HampshireHB11972025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

making technical corrections to certain insurance laws.

Sponsored By: John B. Hunt (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Clearer deadlines for health plan appeals

Beginning January 1, 2027, covered health plans must follow clear appeal deadlines. With two required levels, the first must finish within 15 days and the second within 30 days. A single required level must finish within 30 days. Required second-level appeals about urgent care or continuing services must finish within 72 hours. Written decisions upholding denials must explain specific reasons, relevant rules, and review rights. Plans must provide relevant records and rule explanations free on request, plus information about appeal assistance. Optional appeals follow required appeals, are free, and must finish within 30 days. They pause legal filing deadlines and cannot be required before seeking outside review. Plans must keep appeal records, report annually, and notify claimants about external appeal rights when deadlines are missed.

Past conduct need not block insurance licenses

Beginning January 1, 2027, listed past conduct does not automatically block an insurance producer or public adjuster license. The conduct blocks a license only when the commissioner finds it against the public interest. This rule applies to both resident and nonresident applicants.

Commercial insurance commission rebates gain flexibility

Beginning January 1, 2027, producers can rebate some or all of a commercial insurance commission when the insurer's rate filing expressly allows it. This rebate rule no longer requires the rate filing to be commissioner-approved. The commission reduction cannot be disclosed to the insured, directly or indirectly.

Qualifying employers gain alternative insurance rates

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers using fronting arrangements with captive reinsurers can use alternative workers' compensation rating plans. These plans replace filed rate multipliers and must be filed with and approved by the commissioner. They can serve only group captive members, each with estimated premiums exceeding $25,000 across all states where it has payroll. The captive reinsurer must provide actuarial evidence that rates are neither excessive nor inadequate. The law does not guarantee lower premiums.

Less required access to complaint records

Beginning January 1, 2027, the insurance commissioner no longer has to adopt rules for sharing investigation records with complainants. The commissioner can still adopt rules allowing insured people and claimants to request those records. Information cannot be shared when disclosure would interfere with a civil, criminal, or administrative enforcement case.

Insurance agents and adjusters face discipline

Beginning January 1, 2027, producers, claims adjusters, and public adjusters face probation, suspension, revocation, or refused renewal for good cause. Discipline requires notice and a hearing. Producer and claims-adjuster fines can reach $2,500 per violation; public-adjuster fines are $2,500 per violation. Grounds include specified serious or dishonest offenses; public adjusters also face discipline for knowingly accepting business from unlicensed people who need licenses. The commissioner must consider listed disciplinary factors when reviewing a claims-adjuster applicant's character. A producer business can lose its license if it knew or should have known of a violation and neither reported nor corrected it. Producer enforcement continues after a license or registration lapses or is surrendered.

Insurance examinations require cooperation, protect hearing rights

Beginning January 1, 2027, examined people and businesses must help examiners and provide free, timely, convenient access to relevant records. Refusing an examination or ignoring a reasonable written request can bring license action or penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Written penalty notices take effect 30 days later; requesting a hearing pauses the order while the hearing is pending. An examined person has 20 days after receiving the order adopting the report to request a closed meeting. That meeting must occur within 20 days after the request, unless both sides agree in writing to a later date.

Insurance investigations gain stronger enforcement tools

Beginning January 1, 2027, investigation recipients must provide requested information within 10 working days or request more time for good cause. Failing to do either is a violation. The commissioner can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license, or impose up to $5,000 per violation. Written orders take effect 30 days later; requesting a hearing pauses the order while the hearing is pending. The commissioner can refer suspected insurance crimes to the attorney general or a county attorney. Prosecutors must promptly begin proceedings when the information warrants them.

Insurers get limited filing deadline extensions

Beginning January 1, 2027, the commissioner can give insurers up to 60 extra days to file annual statements for cause. Life insurers can file their gain-and-loss exhibit by the following May 1. Statement fees remain due with the statement or premium tax return, no later than March 15. Intentionally failing to file an annual statement when due can bring a fine up to $5,000 or action against operating authority.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John B. Hunt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 218; eff. 1/1/2027

    7/10/2026House

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 45

    6/17/2026House

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

    6/17/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2016e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 38

    6/3/2026House

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2016e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14

    6/3/2026Senate

  6. Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

    4/23/2026Senate

  7. Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15

    4/15/2026Senate

  8. Hearing: 04/07/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 13

    4/2/2026Senate

  9. Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7

    3/30/2026Senate

  10. Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 2

    3/26/2026House

  11. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)

    3/18/2026House

  12. Executive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230

    3/13/2026House

  13. Division I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230

    2/24/2026House

  14. Referred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 39

    2/19/2026House

  15. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0519h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 3

    2/19/2026House

  16. Amendment # 2026-0519h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 3

    2/19/2026House

  17. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0519h 02/04/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 7 P. 4

    2/11/2026House

  18. Executive Session: 02/04/2026 01:00 pm GP 229

    1/29/2026House

  19. Subcommittee Work Session: 02/04/2026 10:30 am GP 229

    1/29/2026House

  20. Subcommittee Work Session: 01/22/2026 02:15 pm GP 229

    1/15/2026House

  21. Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 01:15 pm GP 229

    1/14/2026House

  22. Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 1 P. 10

    12/1/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Amended

    6/3/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    6/3/2026

    HTML

  • Introduced

    12/1/2025

    PDF

  • CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION

    PDF

  • Version adopted by both bodies

    PDF

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