NAII Satisfied with NH Legislative Session

Gerald L. Zimmerman, senior counsel for the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) indicated that the industry was satisfied with the outcome of the New Hampshire 2002 legislative session, which ended last week.

“We had some setbacks, but for the most part, the 2002 New Hampshire session was a good one for the insurance industry and consumers,” Zimmerman stated .

He noted that topping the victories was the passage of two NAII initiatives: H.B. 1434, which lowers from $5,000 to $1,000 the minimum coverage which must be provided in a motor vehicle liability policy for medical costs incurred by the driver and passengers; and H.B. 1223, which establishes a committee to study rating laws as a first step toward drafting insurance modernization legislation for the 2003 session.

“Although passage of these laws represent substantial gains for the industry, the New Hampshire legislature failed to come through on several initiates,” said the PIANH bulletin. “These included: H.B. 690, which would have established the NCOIL model privacy act. The bill passed the House but was killed by the Senate; and H.B. 1150, relative to insurance compliance self-audits, which was killed by the House.”