Washington HB 2073: Establishing the state capitol committee as an advisory entity of state government.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to funding for health insurance premium 1
assistance; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and creating a 2
new section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that nonprofit 5
health insurance carriers in the state are required to:6
(a) Be committed to a nonprofit corporate structure;7
(b) Provide individuals, businesses, and other groups with 8
affordable and accessible health insurance; and9
(c) Recognize a responsibility to contribute to the improvement 10
of the overall health status of the residents of the jurisdictions in 11
which they operate.12
(2) The legislature further finds that access to health insurance 13
and public services play a critical role in improving the health 14
status of Washington residents.15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 16
RCW to read as follows:17
(1)(a) By October 1, 2026, the commissioner must determine 18
whether a nonprofit health carrier's surplus is excessive.19
H-3496.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2073
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By House Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives
Parshley, Macri, and Scott)
READ FIRST TIME 02/09/26.
p. 1 SHB 2073

(b) The surplus of a nonprofit health carrier must be determined 1
to be excessive if the surplus is 100 times the minimum net worth 2
level set in RCW 48.44.037(1)(a) as reported on the carrier's annual 3
statement required by RCW 48.05.250 for calendar year 2025.4
(2) Except when a reduction in payment is permitted under 5
subsection (3) of this section, if the commissioner determines the 6
surplus of a nonprofit health carrier to be excessive, within 90 days 7
of the determination the nonprofit health carrier must pay 10 percent 8
of the excessive surplus to the commissioner's office for deposit 9
into the state health care affordability account created in RCW 10
43.71.130 to administer a premium assistance program, as established 11
in RCW 43.71.110.12
(3)(a) Within 30 days of a determination by the commissioner that 13
a nonprofit health carrier's surplus is excessive, a nonprofit health 14
carrier may request a hearing by the commissioner to consider a 15
reduction in the required amount of excessive surplus payment to the 16
fund.17
(b) The commissioner may only reduce a nonprofit health carrier's 18
payment to the fund if the nonprofit health carrier presents clear 19
and compelling evidence to the commissioner that the required amount 20
of excessive surplus payment would render the nonprofit health 21
carrier financially impaired under the laws of this state or any 22
other state in which the nonprofit health carrier is authorized to do 23
business.24
(c) The hearing must be conducted in accordance with chapter 25
34.05 RCW.26
(4) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this section.27
(5) For purposes of this section, "excessive surplus" means the 28
amount of a nonprofit health carrier's surplus is 100 times the 29
minimum net worth level set in RCW 48.44.037(1)(a).30
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p. 2 SHB 2073