Senate committee advances healthcare-sharing ministry bill after negotiated amendment

The Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee on Feb. 25 voted to favorably recommend House Bill 255 (health-care sharing ministry amendments) as amended, recording a unanimous committee recommendation to advance the measure to the full Senate.

Representative Abba, the bill sponsor, told the committee she had negotiated Amendment No. 2 with industry stakeholders and Senator Musselman and described the change as a compromise that stakeholders 'can live with.' Senator Ibsen moved to adopt Amendment No. 2 and later moved that HB255, as amended, receive a favorable recommendation. The committee recorded the amendment adoption vote and the final recommendation as unanimous (motions reflected in committee minutes).

Joel Noble of Samaritan Ministries, who testified remotely from Peoria, Illinois, told the committee the amendment resolved the concerns he had raised previously and that Samaritan no longer opposed the bill: 'It solves the concerns that I brought up yesterday, and we no longer have opposition to the bill.'

Seth Stewart of American Fork testified in opposition. He said the bill's required disclaimer could create a consumer expectation that the ministry will not pay health bills and argued the state should not 'put the thumb on the scale' toward state-approved insurance products. 'I would much rather that we just stay out of that space and allow people to get their own consumer information,' Stewart said.

The committee recorded its favorable recommendation as unanimous, 4-0. The bill will move to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Next steps: HB255 as amended will be scheduled for floor consideration per the Senate calendar.