BW INSIGHTS

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week Five Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.12.2021
House and Senate Republicans have reached an agreement on school funding, which the House passed Thursday. Under SF 269 K-12 funding would increase by 2.4% for the 2021-22 school year. That’s higher than the Senate’s proposed 2.2% and slightly lower than the 2.5% favored by Governor Kim Reynolds and House Republicans. It’s also a greater... Read More

The Era of Third-Party Administrators in the Life Insurance Industry

By BrownWinick | 02.12.2021
The TPA Model (“Model 90”) originally adopted in 1977, amended in 1991, 1999, 2001, and 2011 is the only regulation governing the use of third-party administrators, (“TPAs”) by insurance companies. Historically, health and workers compensation insurers utilized TPAs to assist in the administration of their policies. During the Great Recession,... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week Four Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.05.2021
This week the Senate began considering two far-reaching bills proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds that would address the affordable housing shortage and policing issues. SSB 1142 is aimed at increasing affordable housing stock largely through tax credits. The bill would establish a new $15 million low-income housing credit designed to match a... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week Three Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.29.2021
This week Republican lawmakers moved rapidly on two of Governor Kim Reynolds’ highest priorities, with Reynolds signing one of the bills this morning. SF 160 requires all schools to offer 100% in-person learning. Schools can continue offering additional online or hybrid options, and the waiver process for coronavirus outbreaks remains the same.... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week Two Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.22.2021
With the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, this was a short week for lawmakers. On Wednesday, Senate Education Committee Chair Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) introduced two of the governor’s priority education bills. SSB 1064 would require all public and private schools to offer 100% in-person instruction for students. Schools would also be... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week One Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.17.2021
The legislature convened for the 89th General Assembly Monday, welcoming 26 newly-elected lawmakers to the statehouse. With Republicans maintaining their majority in the Senate and expanding it in the House, the GOP will continue driving the state’s policy agenda for the next two years. In his opening remarks, House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New... Read More

Year-End COVID Relief Legislation Becomes Law During the Holidays

By Christopher Nuss | 12.30.2020
This past Sunday evening (December 27), President Trump signed into law additional COVID-19 relief legislation, agreed to by Congress a week earlier, estimated at $900 billion as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Much of the relief comes in the form of tax provisions, known as the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act (the Act), the... Read More

2020 NAIC Fall Meeting Summary

By BrownWinick | 12.22.2020
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) held its final 2020 meeting virtually over four days: 12/2-4 and 12/7-9. Following the activist agenda from the Summer meeting, this meeting was unremarkable. New officers were elected, and a few issues were decided but overall, it was non-controversial. 2020 NAIC Fall Meeting Summary Some... Read More

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