NAIFA-Texas Blog | Legislation & Regulations

7 min read

NAIFA Supports Legislation to Ease the Financial Burden on Caregivers

By NAIFA-Texas on 4/14/25 8:50 AM

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Family caregivers provide $600 billion in unpaid care each year, often impacting their own career opportunities or their families’ financial security. To help them cope with this burden, NAIFA strongly supports the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which would provide a $5,000 tax credit to offset out-of-pocket costs associated with home caregiving. These may include the cost of home modifications, health aides, adult daycare, medicines, transportation, and other support services.

3 min read

CMS/DOL/TREASURY FINALIZE SHORT-TERM LIMITED DURATION HEALTH INSURANCE RULE

By NAIFA-Texas on 4/16/24 8:55 AM

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On March 28, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Treasury released a final short-term limited-duration (STLD) health insurance rule. It retains the proposed rule’s new limits of three months duration, with a four-month renewal option for this kind of insurance.

The new final regulation also requires new disclosure rules—generally language making clear to prospective purchasers that STLD is not the full coverage that they would get from an ACA-compliant policy.

5 min read

NAIFA President and His Client Offer the DOL a Unique Perspective

By NAIFA-Texas on 12/28/23 9:04 AM

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The Department of Labor thinks it knows what's best for Americans preparing for retirement. NAIFA President Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, and his long-time client Chuck Ross think the DOL is wrong and bring their real-life experience to the argument.

2 min read

ACLI's Susan Neely Shares Concerns Over Americans' Retirement Security

By NAIFA-Texas on 7/1/23 11:36 AM

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In a recent article, Susan Neely, President and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), highlights the growing concern among Americans about their financial security during retirement, given increasing lifespans and economic pressures. The passage of SECURE and SECURE 2.0 aimed to address these concerns by closing savings gaps and expanding retirement security.

Neely explains that a fiduciary-only approach by the Labor Department would eliminate commission-based arrangements and potentially limit access to financial recommendations for millions of Americans. She emphasizes that Americans want the freedom to choose their financial professionals and that a fiduciary-only policy would disproportionately affect working-class individuals, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans, widening the racial wealth gap.

The article also highlights a decline in Americans' confidence in their long-term financial prospects and asserts that a fiduciary-only regulation would worsen the situation. Additionally, it argues against any proposal that hinders access to annuities, which have become a popular choice for financial consumers.

NAIFA and ACLI have worked together to get the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) annuity transactions model bolstering consumer protections implemented in 38 states. Life insurers and lawmakers, says Neely, must work together to develop sensible public policies that promote financial certainty in retirement for all Americans.

Texas Department of Insurance Issues Bulletin

By Bianca Alonso NAIFA-Texas Government Relations Manager on 7/14/21 12:40 PM

The Texas Department of Insurance has issued a bulletin listing major changes to agent licensing provisions during the 87th Legislature. Those include:

Special Session Begins!

By Bianca Alonso NAIFA-Texas Government Relations Manager on 7/8/21 10:00 AM

The 87th Texas Legislature is back in the Capitol today to start their first special session of the year. (Yes, that means there are more to come!)

Governor Abbott called the legislature back to Austin to address certain legislative priorities that did failed to pass or were not addressed during the regular session. The call items for what the Texas House and Senate must pass can be found here. Items include banning the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, election and voting protocols, social media censorship, bail reform, and more.

NAIFA-Texas will be monitoring the special session and providing updates to our membership.

1 min read

87th #TxLege By The Numbers

By Bianca Alonso NAIFA-Texas Government Relations Manager on 6/22/21 1:30 PM

On June 8th, NAIFA-Texas members participated in the comeback of our Quarterly Lobbyist Updates. NAIFA-Texas lobbyist, Elizabeth Hadley, delivered a very comprehensive breakdown of bills our association had been working on, as well as, other big ticket priorities (COVID-19 relief, ERCOT reform, health care expansion, broadband expansion, voting integrity, etc.) for Speaker Dade Phelan, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Governor Greg Abbott.

2 min read

Texas Legislature Passes NAIC Model for Annuity Transactions

By NAIFA on 5/20/21 4:21 PM

NAIFA-Texas has been hard at work ensuring that the Texas legislature adopts the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model for a “Best Interest” standard for annuity products this legislative session. Partnering with Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers (TAHLI), we have met with multiple offices and other stakeholders to ensure clarity and support from those within the Texas Capitol. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, M.D. (R-Cypress), chair of the Texas House Insurance Committee is the bill's author.

On March 23, 2021, Jason Talley, NAIFA-Texas Past President, represented NAIFA-Texas by testifying in support of HB 1777 before the Texas House Insurance Committee. This bill passed unanimously out of committee and passed in the Texas House 144-1. Once it reached the Texas Senate, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce. Due to a time constraint before the first bill filing deadline of the session in early March, there was no Senate companion bill nor a Senate author. NAIFA-Texas and TALHI were able to get Chairman Kelly Hancock (R-Fort Worth) to carry this bill in his own committee. On May 13, 2021, this bill was heard in a formal hearing where NAIFA-Texas submitted written testimony in support. There was no opposition.

7 min read

NAIFA Supports Legislation to Ease the Financial Burden on Caregivers

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: Long-Term Care #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Supported Legislation NAIFA Texas NAIFA

3 min read

CMS/DOL/TREASURY FINALIZE SHORT-TERM LIMITED DURATION HEALTH INSURANCE RULE

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Affordable Care Act CMS Congress DOL

5 min read

NAIFA President and His Client Offer the DOL a Unique Perspective

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Standard of Care & Consumer Protection Press Release Federal Advocacy DOL

2 min read

ACLI's Susan Neely Shares Concerns Over Americans' Retirement Security

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON At.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Retirement Legislation & Regulations security 2.0

Texas Department of Insurance Issues Bulletin

Topics: Certifications & Designations Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

Special Session Begins!

Topics: Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

1 min read

87th #TxLege By The Numbers

Topics: Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Leadership Membership

2 min read

Texas Legislature Passes NAIC Model for Annuity Transactions

Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

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7 min read

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: Long-Term Care #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Supported Legislation NAIFA Texas NAIFA

3 min read

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Affordable Care Act CMS Congress DOL

5 min read

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON AT.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Standard of Care & Consumer Protection Press Release Federal Advocacy DOL

2 min read

INFORMATION PUBLISHED ON At.NAIFA.ORG

Topics: #NAIFAProud Retirement Legislation & Regulations security 2.0

Topics: Certifications & Designations Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

Topics: Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

1 min read

Topics: Advocacy #NAIFAProud Legislation & Regulations Leadership Membership

2 min read

Topics: Life Insurance & Annuities Legislation & Regulations State Advocacy

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