HB 29-INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION  3:15:46 PM CHAIR SUMNER announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 29, "An Act relating to insurance discrimination." 3:16:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 29, labeled, 33-LS0272\B.1, Marx, 2/13/23, which read as follows: Page 1, line 4: Following "political": Insert "party" Following "or": Insert "political" Page 1, line 6: Following "political": Insert "party" Following the first occurrence of "or": Insert "political" Page 2, following line 3: Insert a new subsection to read: "(c) In this section, "political party" has the meaning given in AS 15.80.010." PMREPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that the amendment would bring the definition of political party found in the bill in line with the current definition existing in statute. 3:16:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the opinion of the sponsor on the amendment. 3:17:16 PM BUDDY WHITT, Staff, Representative Kevin McCabe, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative McCabe, prime sponsor of HB 29, stated that the statute book does not include a change, which he stated includes a provision that a political party must have 5,000 members to be considered such under Alaska statutes. 3:18:23 PM KEVIN MCCABE, Alaska State Representative, as prime sponsor of HB 29, stated that he had initial concerns because of the 5,000 member requirement, but he is otherwise "fine" with Amendment 1. 3:18:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether Amendment 1 would keep the original intent of the bill intact. 3:19:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE answered that it would, but it would replace "political affiliation" with "political party". 3:19:30 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:19 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. 3:20:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated that Amendment 1 would not change line 4 of HB 29, which includes the language about political affiliation. 3:21:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that her intent was to remove political expression and affiliation completely in favor of political party. 3:22:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1, as follows: On page 1, line 4: Following "Discrimination based on political" Delete "affiliation or expression" Insert "party" 3:22:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected. He asked for clarification on the exact wording that Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 would create. 3:22:51 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 3:22:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK clarified the changes proposed under Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1. 3:24:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER removed his objection to Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 was adopted. 3:24:34 PM CHAIR SUMNER asked Representative Saddler if he maintained his objection to Amendment 1, [as amended]. 3:24:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER removed his objection to Amendment 1, as amended. There being no further objection, Amendment 1, as amended, was adopted. 3:25:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 29, labelled 33-LS0272\B.2, Marx, 2/15/23, which read as follows: Page 1, line 5: Delete "state" Page 1, line 7: Delete "state official as defined in AS 44.99.205" Insert "official" Page 2, following line 3: Insert a new subsection to read: "(c) In this section, "elected official" means a member of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, a constitutional convention delegate, a borough or city mayor, or a member of a borough or city assembly, council, or school board." REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER announced there being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 3:25:23 PM CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 29. After ascertaining nobody wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:25:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 29, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. 3:26:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS objected. He stated that he has concerns that the bill could be viewed as "self-serving" and potentially cause other Alaskans to lose their ability to buy umbrella insurance coverage. 3:26:58 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Prax, Ruffridge, Saddler, Wright, Carrick and Sumner voted in favor of HB 29. Representative Fields voted against it. Therefore, CSHB 29 (L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee by a vote of 6-1.