Senate committee declines to advance insurance business‑transfer bill after solvency concerns

Senate Bill 2003, a measure to authorize an insurance business transfer (IBT) process in Arkansas, failed to advance from the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee after stakeholders raised concerns about potential risks to the Arkansas Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association.

Sponsor Senator Rapert described the bill as a structured statutory process for transferring legacy policy books to an assuming insurer, requiring a plan filed with the insurance commissioner, notice to affected jurisdictions and policyholders, an independent expert review, and circuit‑court approval following a public comment period. Rapert said the bill provides “double protection” because both the insurance commissioner and a circuit court would review transfers.

Opponents, including Lee Douglas of the Arkansas Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association and representatives of the American Council of Life Insurers, said the bill as drafted could create gaps in guarantee fund coverage if an Arkansas assuming insurer holds policies issued to residents of other states. Douglas testified that if an Arkansas‑only licensed insurer assumes policies covering out‑of‑state residents and later becomes insolvent, Arkansas’s guarantee fund could be obliged to cover those claims.

Derek Smith (ACLI) urged caution, noting past insolvencies involving multi‑state carriers and warning that judicial review and regulator oversight cannot eliminate the risk that an assuming insurer might later fail. After closing remarks by the sponsor, the chair announced the bill had not been moved forward by the committee and therefore would not advance.

What’s next: Sponsor encouraged further work with the insurance department; the bill did not receive a committee motion to advance and remains unapproved.