HB 2144 Oklahoma House · 2025 Regular Session

Insurance; Insurance Consumers Protection Act; cause of action; bad faith; damages; jury; effective date.

HB 2144, the "Insurance Consumers Protection Act," creates a new legal right for insured individuals and third-party beneficiaries to sue their insurance companies in court for "bad faith" actions, such as unreasonably refusing to pay or delaying valid claims. The bill clarifies that policy provisions giving insurers sole discretion over claim decisions are void. Claimants are entitled to a jury trial to determine issues of bad faith and the necessity of treatment, without first needing to exhaust administrative remedies with the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to restructure section numbering and add detailed definitions for key terms like 'bad faith,' 'first-party claimant,' 'insurer,' and 'third-party beneficiary.' These changes clarify who can bring claims, what constitutes bad faith conduct, and which entities are covered under the new Insurance Consumers Protection Act.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded by adding comprehensive definitions that clarify eligibility for claims and the specific conduct that qualifies as bad faith, making the law more accessible and enforceable.

TECHNICAL

Section numbering was reorganized to shift from Section 1 to Section 2 for the new law title, and subsequent sections were renumbered accordingly.

Updated statutory citation references to change Section 1119 to Section 1119.1 and Section 1119.2 for the new law sections.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'bad faith,' 'first-party claimant,' 'insurer,' 'insured,' 'issued in this state,' 'person,' 'prior authorization,' and 'third-party beneficiary' to clarify who is protected and what conduct is prohibited.

Clarified that 'insurer' includes nonprofit hospital service and medical indemnity corporations but excludes burial associations.

Defined 'third-party beneficiary' as someone who receives health benefits from a contract between two other parties, even if they are not a party to the contract.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass as amended Rules committee; CR filed

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Engrossed, signed, to Senate

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred for engrossment

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 84 Nays: 0

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee; Do Pass Civil Judiciary

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Civil Judiciary

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

First Reading

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors