Reinsurance Conference Committee Set to Begin

A House-Senate conference committee that will decide the fate of reinsurance will begin shortly in St. Paul. The Senate bill extends reinsurance through December 31, 2022, while the House bill lets it expire at the end of this year.

The House conferees will be led by Commerce Committee Chair Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids), who will be joined by Representatives Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis), Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul) Patty Acomb (DFL-Minnetonka) and Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell).

The Senate conferees will be led by Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Chair Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls). Other Senate conferees are David Senjem (R-Senjem), Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids, Andrew Matthews (R-Princeton) and Nick Frentz (DFL-Mankato).

The conferees will have to resolve numerous differences in the two bills, but reinsurance is the main issue dividing the two bodies. The end of reinsurance would mean premium increases of about 25% for an estimated 150,000 Minnesotans that buy individual insurance coverage. There are strong feelings – pro and con -- about reinsurance in both bodies.

The 2021 session is scheduled to end on May 17.