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Minutes for SB55 - Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance
Short Title
Prohibiting the assignment of benefits under certain property and casualty insurance contracts and defining such assignment of benefits as an unfair method of competition and unfair or deceptive act or practice.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 5, 2026
Chairperson Dietrich opened the hearing on SB55. Revisor Eileen Ma gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 3)
Kim Decker spoke on behalf of Kansas Association of Property and Casualty Insurance Companies in support of the bill. (Attachment 4) She explained how the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is used by unscrupulous roofers or contractors to inflate claim costs. It can even extend to lawsuits being filed in a homeowner's name without their knowledge.
Blake Roberts of Weddle and Sons, Inc. testified in favor of the bill. (Attachment 5) He shared that reputable contractors do not need to take over a homeowner's rights through an AOB in order to settle a claim.
Written only proponent testimony was received from:
Arlen Briggs, President & CEO, Armed Forces Insurance (Attachment 6);
Tony Kimmi, Property Casuality Claims Vice-President, Farm Bureau Financial Services (Attachment 7);
Adam Eathington, Director of Strategy, Policy, and Government Affairs, National Insurance Crime Bureau (Attachment 8); and
Sean Miller, Lobbyist, Kansas Building Industry Association (Attachment 9).
The Committee requested that Eric Turek of the Department of Insurance to indicate the agency's position on the bill. He noted that the Department does not have a position on this bill as it is a policy for the Legislature to consider. The Department does receive complaints from the public regarding AOB but they are usually from contractors.
Proponents stood for questions from the Committee. There was no other testimony.
The hearing on SB55 was closed by Chairperson Dietrich.
Meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for February 9, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
