HB1171
To Amend The Law Concerning The Requirements For Religious Denominations To Qualify As Self-insurers.
Last Action (Feb. 17, 2023): Notification that HB1171 is now Act 91
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1171 seeks to amend the requirements for religious denominations to qualify as self-insurers under Arkansas law. The bill specifically modifies Arkansas Code § 27-19-107(a)(2)(A) regarding the criteria for groups that self-insure their motor vehicles. Currently, the law requires that a qualifying religious denomination 'prohibits' its members from purchasing insurance due to religious tenets. The amendment changes this requirement by replacing the word 'prohibits' with the word 'discourages.' This adjustment lowers the threshold for religious organizations to meet the legal definition required to function as self-insurers in the state.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are religious denominations that have religious tenets against insurance but do not strictly prohibit their members from purchasing it. By changing the requirement from a prohibition to a discouragement, these organizations may find it easier to qualify as self-insurers, potentially lowering their administrative or insurance-related costs while maintaining compliance with their internal religious guidelines.
Who Might Suffer?
Potentially, the general public or other motorists involved in accidents with members of these self-insured groups could be negatively impacted if the self-insurance funds are not adequately managed or if the change leads to less comprehensive coverage than traditional commercial insurance policies. Additionally, commercial insurance providers may face a slight increase in competition from religious organizations that qualify for self-insured status under the more lenient language.
Vote Records
Third Reading
Feb. 14, 2023View individual votes (35)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane English | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Linda Chesterfield | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Jonathan Dismang | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Greg Leding | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Missy Irvin | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bryan King | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Kim Hammer | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Stephanie Flowers | Democrat | Senate | Absent |
| Frederick Love | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Terry Rice | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Reginald Murdock | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Jim Dotson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| John Payton | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Alan Clark | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bart Hester | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jimmy Hickey | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| David Wallace | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Justin Boyd | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clarke Tucker | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Scott Flippo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clint Penzo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Mark Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ricky Hill | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Breanne Davis | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ben Gilmore | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Joshua Bryant | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt McKee | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Petty | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Steve Crowell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Tyler Dees | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt Stone | Republican | Senate | Yea |
Third Reading
Feb. 6, 2023View individual votes (100)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Allen | Democrat | House | NV |
| Lane Jean | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Meeks | Republican | House | NV |
| Mark Perry | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jon Eubanks | Republican | House | NV |
| Matthew Shepherd | Republican | House | NV |
| Jeff Wardlaw | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bruce Cozart | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Whitaker | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Deborah Ferguson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Charlene Fite | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mike Holcomb | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Magie | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Mark McElroy | Republican | House | Yea |
| Josh Miller | Republican | House | Yea |
| Richard Womack | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jack Ladyman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Robin Lundstrum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Dwight Tosh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lanny Fite | Republican | House | Yea |
| Grant Hodges | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick Beck | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mary Bentley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Eaves | Republican | House | Yea |
| Justin Gonzales | Republican | House | Yea |
| Julie Mayberry | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ken Ferguson | Democrat | House | NV |
| Ron Mcnair | Republican | House | Yea |
| Milton Nicks | Democrat | House | NV |
| Marcus Richmond | Republican | House | Yea |
| Vivian Flowers | Democrat | House | NV |
| Deann Vaught | Republican | House | Yea |
| Karilyn Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Sonia Eubanks Barker | Republican | House | Yea |
| Frances Cavenaugh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jack Fortner | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jimmie Gazaway | Republican | House | Yea |
| Roger Lynch | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Maddox | Republican | House | Yea |
| Aaron Pilkington | Republican | House | Yea |
| Johnny Rye | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Warren | Republican | House | Yea |
| Danny Watson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carlton Wing | Republican | House | Yea |
| Austin Mccollum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carol Dalby | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Hollowell | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brian Evans | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lee Johnson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Andrew Collins | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Stan Berry | Republican | House | NV |
| Harlan Breaux | Republican | House | Yea |
| Cameron Cooper | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nicole Clowney | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Cindy Crawford | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Garner | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Tippi McCullough | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jay Richardson | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jamie Scott | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jim Wooten | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Ennett | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Richard McGrew | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joy Springer | Democrat | House | NV |
| Howard Beaty | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tony Furman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendon Underwood | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Ray | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mark Berry | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick McClure | Republican | House | Yea |
| Keith Brooks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Delia Haak | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ashley Hudson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jon Milligan | Republican | House | Yea |
| RJ Hawk | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wade Andrews | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rebecca Burkes | Republican | House | Yea |
| DeAnna Hodges | Republican | House | Yea |
| Hope Duke | Republican | House | Yea |
| Zack Gramlich | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mindy McAlindon | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Duffield | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stetson Painter | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Unger | Republican | House | Nay |
| Wayne Long | Republican | House | Yea |
| Scott Richardson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brandon Achor | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeremiah Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joey Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Shad Pearce | Republican | House | Yea |
| Chad Puryear | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ryan Rose | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bart Schulz | Republican | House | Yea |
| Trey Steimel | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tara Shephard | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jeremy Wooldridge | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendra Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brit McKenzie | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steven Walker | Republican | House | Yea |
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