Legislative Issues and Testimonials

Senate Bill 256 – Rebating | Testimony by Jeff Smith, CEO of OIA

OIA strongly supported the provisions in Senate Bill 256 to modernize Ohio’s insurance marketplace by adopting several changes recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to their Unfair Trade Practices Model Law. These changes would not only promote innovation but will also update the current antiquated anti-rebating rules that are in place for insurance agents and companies while still properly protecting Ohio’s insurance consumers.

Senate Bill 64 – Storm Scammers | Testimony by Brent Phelan, Owner of Phelan Insurance

OIA supported Senate Bill 64 sponsored by Senators Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) and George Lang (R-West Chester) to enact commonsense consumer protections that will safeguard Ohioans from unscrupulous residential roofing contractors. Notably, numerous states have laws in place (including several of our neighboring states) to regulate roofing contractors. S.B. 64 takes a balanced approach that establishes essential consumer protections without hindering legitimate businesses. The intent of the legislation is to protect consumers from “storm scammers” who often fail to complete work and deceive consumers about their need for unnecessary repairs when they are highly vulnerable following severe weather events.

Senate Bill 115 – Certificates of Insurance | Testimony by Bill Bishop, Owner of Associated Insurance Agencies

OIA supported Senate Bill 115, which establishes a section in the Ohio Revised Code on certificates of insurance that makes it expressly illegal to demand or issue a false or misleading certificate of insurance. Certificates of insurance can create many challenges for insurance agencies and our clients. In addition to the time and expertise we spend on complying with certificate requests, we have also experienced some instances where businesses have made questionable demands and other agents have acquiesced to providing questionable information on certificates of insurance.

House Bill 279 – Responsible Driver Protection Act | Testimony by Tom Schneider, Owner of Schneider Insurance Agency

OIA supported House Bill 279, which protects responsible drivers by barring those who repeatedly and flagrantly break the law by driving without complying with the state’s financial responsibility requirements from recovering non-economic (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium) damages from a responsible driver when involved in an accident. The system breaks down when drivers ignore or fail to comply with our financial responsibility laws. With an estimated 15% uninsured motorists our system is broken. We must do more as a state to protect responsible drivers by injecting fairness into our financial responsibility system. H.B. 279 ensures accident victims, whether insured or uninsured are made whole, but if you are uninsured that is where your benefits stop.