Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: In Committee

SB 244 — An Act relating to travel insurance.

Last action — (S) Heard & Held

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 14% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

38 added · 39 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 244 has removed a prior reference to "inland marine" insurance, focusing solely on "wet marine and transportation" lines of insurance. This change highlights a more specialized regulation within the travel insurance framework. This matters because it clarifies the types of insurance coverage addressed by the bill, potentially making it easier to regulate and implement effective protections for travelers.

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34-LS0784\G CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.
34-LS0784\I SENATE BILL NO.
244(L&C) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Referred:
244 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Introduced:
Transportation Sponsor(s):
2/16/26 Referred:
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to travel insurance;
Labor and Commerce, Transportation A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to travel insurance." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
SB0244B -1- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G (7) "primary policyholder" means an individual who elects and purchases travel insurance under an individual policy;
SB0244A -1- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I (7) "primary policyholder" means an individual who elects and purchases travel insurance under an individual policy;
(2) title insurance limited producer license to a person whose place of CSSB 244(L&C) -2- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G business is located in this state and whose sole purpose is to be appointed by and act on behalf of a title insurer;
(2) title insurance limited producer license to a person whose place of SB 244 -2- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I business is located in this state and whose sole purpose is to be appointed by and act on behalf of a title insurer;
SB0244B -3- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G (iv) personal effects insurance, including loss of use, with respect to damage to or loss of personal property of a person renting the vehicle and other vehicle occupants while that property is being loaded into, transported by, or unloaded from a vehicle rented from the licensee during the term of the rental agreement;
SB0244A -3- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I (iv) personal effects insurance, including loss of use, with respect to damage to or loss of personal property of a person renting the vehicle and other vehicle occupants while that property is being loaded into, transported by, or unloaded from a vehicle rented from the licensee during the term of the rental agreement;
the vendor shall provide the name, residence address, location of the vendor's home office, and other information required by the director for an employee or officer that is designated by the vendor as the person responsible CSSB 244(L&C) -4- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G for the vendor's compliance with the requirements of this chapter;
the vendor shall provide the name, residence address, location of the vendor's home office, and other information required by the director for an employee or officer that is designated by the vendor as the person responsible SB 244 -4- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I for the vendor's compliance with the requirements of this chapter;
(9) crop insurance limited producer license to a person who sells or offers crop insurance coverage for damage to crops from unfavorable weather conditions, fire or lightning, flood, hail, insect infestation, disease, or other yield- reducing conditions or perils provided by the private insurance market or that is SB0244B -5- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G subsidized by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, including multi-peril crop insurance.
(9) crop insurance limited producer license to a person who sells or offers crop insurance coverage for damage to crops from unfavorable weather conditions, fire or lightning, flood, hail, insect infestation, disease, or other yield- reducing conditions or perils provided by the private insurance market or that is SB0244A -5- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I subsidized by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, including multi-peril crop insurance.
(7) an incorporated or unincorporated association having a common interest, constitution, and bylaws and organized and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance for members or participants of the association CSSB 244(L&C) -6- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G covering its members;
(7) an incorporated or unincorporated association having a common interest, constitution, and bylaws and organized and maintained in good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance for members or participants of the association SB 244 -6- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I covering its members;
(d) Eligibility and underwriting standards for travel insurance may be developed and provided based on travel protection plans that are designed for individual or identified marketing or distribution channels if those standards also meet the underwriting standards for inland marine and transportation lines of insurance in the state.
(d) Eligibility and underwriting standards for travel insurance may be developed and provided based on travel protection plans that are designed for individual or identified marketing or distribution channels if those standards also meet the underwriting standards for wet marine and transportation lines of insurance in the state.
(a) The director may issue a travel insurance limited producer license to an individual or SB0244B -7- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G business entity that has filed with the director an application in a form and manner prescribed by the director.
(a) The director may issue a travel insurance limited producer license to an individual or SB0244A -7- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I business entity that has filed with the director an application in a form and manner prescribed by the director.
CSSB 244(L&C) -8- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G (B) the name, address, and contact information of each officer or person who directs or controls the travel retailer's operations;
SB 244 -8- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I (B) the name, address, and contact information of each officer or person who directs or controls the travel retailer's operations;
(2) explain that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order SB0244B -9- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G to purchase any other product or service from the travel retailer;
(2) explain that the purchase of travel insurance is not required in order SB0244A -9- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I to purchase any other product or service from the travel retailer;
and (2) the fulfillment materials CSSB 244(L&C) -10- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G (A) describe and delineate the travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation fee waivers in the travel protection plan;
and (2) the fulfillment materials SB 244 -10- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I (A) describe and delineate the travel insurance, travel assistance services, and cancellation fee waivers in the travel protection plan;
(d) If a travel insurance policy or certificate contains preexisting condition exclusions, the person offering the policy shall provide to the consumer, before the time of purchase and in the fulfillment materials for the coverage, information and an SB0244B -11- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G opportunity to learn more about the preexisting condition exclusions.
(d) If a travel insurance policy or certificate contains preexisting condition exclusions, the person offering the policy shall provide to the consumer, before the time of purchase and in the fulfillment materials for the coverage, information and an SB0244A -11- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I opportunity to learn more about the preexisting condition exclusions.
(h) A person may not offer, solicit, or negotiate travel insurance or travel CSSB 244(L&C) -12- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G protection plans on an individual or group basis by using a negative or opt-out option that requires a consumer to take an affirmative action to deselect coverage, including unchecking a box on an electronic form, when the consumer purchases a trip.
(h) A person may not offer, solicit, or negotiate travel insurance or travel SB 244 -12- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I protection plans on an individual or group basis by using a negative or opt-out option that requires a consumer to take an affirmative action to deselect coverage, including unchecking a box on an electronic form, when the consumer purchases a trip.
In AS 21.42.800 - 21.42.825, (1) "blanket travel insurance" means a policy of travel insurance that is issued to any eligible group and that provides coverage for specific classes of persons defined in the policy with coverage provided to all members of the eligible group SB0244B -13- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G without a separate charge to individual members of the eligible group;
In AS 21.42.800 - 21.42.825, (1) "blanket travel insurance" means a policy of travel insurance that is issued to any eligible group and that provides coverage for specific classes of persons defined in the policy with coverage provided to all members of the eligible group SB0244A -13- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I without a separate charge to individual members of the eligible group;
(D) a person adjusting or settling claims in the normal course of that person's practice or employment as an attorney who does not collect CSSB 244(L&C) -14- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G charges or premiums in connection with insurance coverage;
(D) a person adjusting or settling claims in the normal course of that person's practice or employment as an attorney who does not collect SB 244 -14- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I charges or premiums in connection with insurance coverage;
SB0244B -15- CSSB 244(L&C) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\G (B) licensed insurance producer;
SB0244A -15- SB 244 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0784\I (B) licensed insurance producer;
* Sec.
SB 244 -16- SB0244A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
7.
This Act takes effect January 1, 2027.
CSSB 244(L&C) -16- SB0244B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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Action History

  1. (S) Heard & Held

  2. (S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  3. (S) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

  4. (S) FN1: ZERO(CED)

  5. (S) NR: DUNBAR, YUNDT

  6. (S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON

  7. (S) L&C RPT CS 2DP 2NR TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE

  8. (S) Moved CSSB 244(L&C) Out of Committee

  9. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  10. (S) Heard & Held

  11. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  12. (S) L&C, TRA

  13. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

  • Senate Labor & Commerce · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 64 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Senate Labor & Commerce

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (64)

64 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 64 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

finance transportation health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 244?
SB 244 is sponsored by Senate Labor & Commerce.
What is the current status of SB 244?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 244?
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