Consumers Council of Missouri

While the Missouri General Assembly is in session from January through May, Consumers Council of Missouri will list appropriate legislation that impacts state consumers.  The summaries are taken directly from the Missouri legislature’s bill tracking system.  To see the most current status of the bill, please click on the bill number.

 

 

 

Utility-related bills

HB 1610: Changes the laws regarding rates charged by natural gas corporations and assistance for eligible household through the Utilicare Program.

HB 2041: Requires a landlord to supply a tenant with copies of utility bills or a written statement of the average monthly utility bill for the previous 12 months when entering into a lease, unless waived. 

HB 2196: Establishes procedures for the sale of a small water or sewer system to a large public utility.

SB 698 and HB 1750: Requires certain incumbent local exchange telecommunications companies to reduce intrastate switched exchange access rates.

 

Bills related to payday loans

HB 1508: Changes the laws regarding unsecured loans of $500 or less, commonly known as payday loans.

HB 1509: Prohibits unsecured loans of $500 or less, commonly known as payday loans, from being facilitated, encouraged, solicited, advertised, or provided on nursing home or residential care facility property.

HB 1936: Requires lenders of unsecured loans of $500 or less, commonly known as payday loans, to display in the lobby a brochure detailing the eligibility requirements for the Missouri Food Stamp Program.

HB 2116: Changes the laws regarding unsecured loans of $500 or less, commonly known as payday loans.

 

Insurance

SB 685: Authorizes certain regulatory actions against insurance companies operating in hazardous financial conditions and establishes a risk-based capital trend test calculation for testing an insurance company’s capital.

SJR 23: Prohibits a political subdivision from receiving state funding it if provides health insurance to its employees through a public health insurance option plan.

SB 710: Subjects 383 malpractice associations to stricter insurance regulations.

SB 770: Modifies the definition of “health benefit plan” and “health carrier” to exclude coverage provided by supplemental insurance policies.

SB 892: Modifies provisions governing the regulation of the bail bond industry by the Department of Insurance.

SB 931: Requires health insurance policies to cover dental care services for pregnant women.

SB 583: Entitles consumers with long-term insurance policies and Medicare supplement policies to premium refunds for unearned portions.

SB 972: Enacts provisions relating to documents and materials for health insurance enrollees.

SB 1031: Modifies law regarding property insurance.

SB 1043: Modifies several provisions of laws relating to health insurance.

HB 1379: Changes the laws regarding the use of credit information when underwriting insurance contracts and prohibits insurers from taking adverse actions based on a person’s credit report or insurance score.

HB 1625: Requires the reporting of health insurance information on Missouri income returns and the providing of a notice to those taxpayers eligible for health insurance assistance for dependent children.

HB 1796: Requires insurers to obtain approval from the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration before raising any insurance premium rate by 15% or more.

HB 1333: Allows persons who have exhausted their total lifetime benefits to be eligible for coverage under the Missouri Health Insurance Pool.

HB 1495: Changes the laws regarding health insurance contracts and plans.

HB 1964: Changes the laws regarding the Missouri Health Insurance Pool.

HB 1971: Changes the laws regarding the payment of health insurance claims.

HB 2179: Requires the Missouri Health Insurance Pool to establish a premium assistance program to subsidize health insurance coverage for individuals and their families based on financial need.

HB 2205: Allows an insurer to provide health insurance information regarding an enrollee’s health benefit plan online unless a paper copy is requested by the enrollee by written, oral or electronic means.

HB 2290: Specifies that the value of certain life insurance policies will not be considered an asset when determining eligibility and the amount of benefits under federally aided state public assistance programs.

 

Financial Issues

HB 1446: Changes the laws regarding financial transactions.

SB 777: Allows for the sale of certain financial products and plans associated with certain loan transactions.

HB 1714: Requires persons conducting home inspections to be licensed by the Division of Professional Registration within the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration.

HB 2201: Exempts financial institutions from the mortgage broker licensure requirements until the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry is operational.

SB 978: Enacts various provisions of law related to the treatment of qualified financial contracts, netting agreements and other similar agreements in insurance insolvency proceedings.