Maryland

Beginning Oct. 1, Maryland will become the third state to repeal pre-licensing education requirements since the NAIC removed them from its model act and licensing standards.

Review highlights from the legislative session, including IA&B’s successful deflection of several potentially damaging proposals.

This bill, which would have misled policyholders about reassessments and deflected attention away from the impacts of MAIF’s rate inadequacy, did not pass.

The legislation, aimed primarily at increasing uninsured motorist penalties, will take effect on July 1. Because of the quick turnaround time, IA&B expects some insurers will use policies with outdated language until they can make the necessary programming and product filing changes.

While IA&B lobbied for a full repeal of last year’s HB 98, the passage of this year’s legislation includes disclosure requirements that present a step in the right direction.

IA&B worked with the Maryland Department of Transportation on this legislation, which we expect will result in better enforcement against uninsured drivers and fewer FR-19 requests for agents.

Strongly opposed by IA&B, this legislation – which would have significantly expanded the application of Maryland’s sales tax to selected services, including insurance agents’ commissions – did not gain enough traction to pass.

The entire P&C industry opposed this legislation, which ultimately did not pass but was referred to the MIA for further study.

Despite IA&B expressing concerns to lawmakers over insurance market disruption, this legislative priority of the Maryland Trial Bar passed and will take effect Oct. 1.